|
Ornaments and Costumes
The Apatanis wear the physical marking or decoration in the form
of putting of earring, nose plugs, tattooing etc. Even still born children are
decorated before they are buried. Children are tied a piece of woolen black threads on
their waist, wrist and hinge after birth. The earrings is worn both by
male and female.
Usually male
wear cane knitted ring which is locally
called Tarin and is beautifully knitted from a particular cane known as
Taer yasso. The priests must put on the ring when they attend certain ceremonial
occasions like Murung, Myoko, Subu etc and these ceremonies are collectively
called as Tiggo Uhi.
The male members keep long hair and make a knot on the forehead
known as piiding after carefully combing with a comb made of bamboo. On the knot,
there is a skew horizontally tied with Dinchu (a metal chain). The women wear a number of chain of blue beads
on their neck usually. The male members put a particular white bead called Milosampo
during occasions and children put on ring of white beads known as Rite comonly. The grown-up male members girdle a loin belt along with a cane
matted hanging from the waist like a tail which is called Ahu-Yari. They also
put on a number of cane matted ring known as Huring on the waist. The matured women
wear well knitted British type skirt and thick blouse with white and black
colour.
Marriage
Apatanis practice monogamy in general but a man may
polygamise
when he has no male child or his wife is barren or he is of a well to-do-family
which can provide sufficient food and shelter or with the consent of his first
wife. Polyandry system is totally unknown. The cross cousin marriage and ciciberism
practices are not approved. The Apatanis treat the wife of the elder brother as
a second mother and the wife of the younger brother as own sister. The customs
of the marriage of the Apatanis have no age bar. Marriage is socially approved
within the seven villages according to the class and status.
Class
means 'Gyuchi' and 'Gyutii' and the status means economic status.
The marriage in the Apatani society also may be arranged either
by negotiations or by elopement or by the capturing.
In the negotiation
marriage, the boy side must test an omen from chicken liver secretly before
taking any decision and carefully examining it. The chicken omen is tested whether
she will agree and lead a fruitful life with children and prosperity. If the
omen favour it, the two cousin brothers of the boy go to the house of the
girl's parents taking the right omen and these two brothers are known as
Gyunta.The right omen of the boy is carefully scrutinized by the parents of the
girl who also test an omen from chicken liver. If this omen is also right, the girl's
parents arrange for a formal engagement.
After the
preparation of rice beer and meat, the
girl's parents inform the parents of the boy for engagement. On this occasion,
the boy along with his Gyunta go to her house and the boy give a Tibetan sword known as Chiri to the parents of the
girl. This kind of betrothal is like promising that she is his legal wife
from that day. The girl's side also betroths a locally produced cloth known as
Mabo-pulye to the boy along with a dainty meal and rice beer.
After these formalities, if both the parents wish they may decide for the
exchange of rice and mithun for more or less religious importance, which is known as Rutu Pini. The boys side should present a half grown
mithun (sido) to the parents of the girl. In return, the boy brings 70 to100 baskets of rice from the brides parents and this rice is known as
Arirutu.
Next day, there is an occasion known as Pyali Banii. On this occasion, the
sisters of the bride bring small baskets containing varieties of rice for the
bride and the groom. If the groom's parents wish, some small rites are performed
in the house of the groom and this performance is called Amohini.
During
that ceremony, pig and many other fowls are sacrificed to God and Goddesses who
bring life and prosperity to the bride-groom. Apatanis
approve the remarriage of both widows and widowers.
|