Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Arunachal Pradesh

Fairs and Festivals


Siron Molo Sochum - Nishi Festival

The biggest festival of the Nishi is called Siron Molo Sochum and is celebrated in the Nishi month of 'Ram Po-Lo' every year. Before this festival all houses and granaries are rebuilt and all the crops like dry paddy, millet, maize are harvested and stored in the granaries. For the festival, house holders cook rice, meat and prepare apeng and entertain guests and receives blessing for more abundant crops next year. It is believed by the Nishis that the more guests are satisfied with food and drink, the more crops will grow in the coming year. 

On the day of the festival, all singers of the village sing old history of the Nishi people. In the song, it is described that
the God Nima Teni did not worship the goddess of crops and goddess therefore moved away to the land of summer and entreated the goddess of crops and ultimately married her. Nima Teni got all kinds of seeds from the goddess and learnt the method of cultivation from her. Prayers are offered to the goddess of crops requesting her not to go away but to fill the granaries with the crops. If some food-stuffs disappears over night or food prints of some animals are seen, it is believed that the goddess came to the people and the crops will be abundant.