LONGDING, Jan 25: The President of the Wancho Students Union (WSU), Pongngoi Joham expressed strong resentment over the proposed celebration of the Golden Jubilee Central Oriah at Longding. In his representation letter to the Wancho Cultural Society (WCS), Pongngoi stated, “We, the Wancho Tribe, possess the attributes that distinguish us from other tribes and groups, a tribe with rich traditions and customs that differentiate a unique culture and identity from other indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh, and which have been in practice since time immemorial.
He further added, ‘On a wider note, like a famous saying in the Wancho tribe:
“LONGPHANG PHIH NU MAKHANG EA NGAI PU WANCHO KHONAK,
AJU AJONG, MAI-PHAN KAH-PHAN GANG-MAN, TU MA KHE BANG PU WANCHO KHANAK,
PANGPO-ORIAH, PONGBAN KHAMDAK GAMING GANGJAW TIASUNG LAIHON LE MOK LE SAH LE BANG PU WANCHO KHONAK,“
which translates to: “When human beings were created, when animals and humans were separated, when heaven and earth were separated, since then, the Wancho tribe and its culture have existed.”
This clearly indicates that the Wancho tribe and culture have been in existence since time immemorial. Hence, there is no point in assigning an age or number to Wancho culture or Oriah.
It is to humbly remind you that, apart from all other rituals and festivals of the Wancho tribe, Oriah is predominantly celebrated through rituals and sacrifices made to Zangwan. It is needless to mention here that Oriah is not merely a festival for feasting and showcasing traditional songs, dances, and costumes but a socio-religious ceremony for thanksgiving to God for His benevolence in all aspects and for a prosperous future ahead. It is also safe to say that Oriah is celebrated to worship God through Zangwan, which is directly or indirectly linked with nature, culture, agriculture, and human life.
To compare, Rongali Bihu, the most important of the three Bihus (Rongali Bihu, Kati Bihu, and Magh Bihu), celebrated by the Assamese in Assam, is also associated with nature and agriculture. It is celebrated in a grand manner, just as we celebrate Oriah in the districts of Longding, Tirap, and some parts of Assam, Nagaland, and Myanmar. Needless to mention, Bihu has been celebrated since time immemorial, making it impossible to count its celebrations; hence, jubilees are not observed for Bihu.
Unlike Bihu, Oriah is celebrated on different dates and times of the year. The common name or nomenclature of a Common Wancho Oriah Celebration was introduced to showcase the unity of the Wancho community. However, it cannot be denied that efforts have been made on several occasions to create cultural awareness in the district by celebrating Oriah on the same date in February every year. But due to variations in the jhuming periods across villages, inevitable issues, and other reasons, this could not be implemented effectively.
Now, our concern is, what if we or future generations agree in the future to celebrate Wancho Oriah on the same day, i.e., February 14–16 every year? Evidence from a Google search confirms that the official celebration of Oriah takes place from February 14–16 each year. Celebrating a Golden Jubilee in 2025 would create a cultural blunder for future generations, misleading them and potentially causing a silent attack on our culture and its eventual destruction.
It is pertinent to mention here that, like any other festival in India, Oriah holds significant cultural, religious, and emotional value for the Wancho community. Whether it is Central Oriah or regional Oriah, the meaning of Oriah remains the same. It is reiterated that we have never heard of Assamese people celebrating a Bihu Jubilee, Hindus celebrating a Puja Jubilee, or the Khamti Tribe celebrating a Sangken Jubilee, nor the Monpa Tribe observing a Losar Jubilee. Similarly, celebrating an Oriah Jubilee would not be appropriate, as it is deeply linked with the socio-cultural-religious and customary sentiments of our ancestors.
The apex body of the Wancho society, Wancho Council (WC), through its order dated October 10, 2024, has strongly resolved against numbering Oriah celebrations in all administrative headquarters. Additionally, groups such as the Shungkuh Wancho Women Welfare Society (SWWWS) and people from Pongchau Wakka Headquarters, Pongchau Circle, Wakka Circle, Konnu Village, Longthan Circle, Pongchau Village, Kanubari Circle, and others have voiced their disagreement with the Golden Jubilee Central Oriah Celebration at Longding.
Despite repeated objections from the people of Longding District regarding numbering the Oriah Festival, the Wancho Cultural Society has remained silent and unresponsive, which is perceived as dismissive of the people’s sentiments. This lack of response is both arbitrary and unjust. As a custodian of Wancho culture, it is your responsibility to safeguard and uphold the rich traditions of Wanchonu.
The Wancho Students Union (WSU), along with the aforementioned societies, villages, and individuals, strongly opposes the Golden Jubilee Central Oriah celebration. We emphasize that we are not against the celebration of the Oriah Festival, but we firmly oppose the illogical concept of celebrating a Golden Jubilee, as clearly articulated above.
For this very reason, no Silver Jubilee has ever been celebrated in Longding, which serves as a clear cultural testimony for all of us and the world. Proceeding with the Golden Jubilee Wancho Oriah in 2025, despite several objections, would amount to a gross violation of basic cultural rights as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Therefore, I would like to take the liberty of expressing our collective thoughts and earnestly request you to refrain from using the term Golden Jubilee for the upcoming Oriah Festival 2025. Instead, let us celebrate the Central Oriah Festival with great pomp and show, as it has always been celebrated. We, the Wanchos, stand ready to provide all possible forms of assistance, including manpower, materials, and other support from every circle/block of Longding District, Arunachal Pradesh, stated President WSU.
