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Ethnic group
| Tani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | 2,170,250 |
 China | N/A |
| Languages | |
| Tani languages | |
| Religion | |
| Donyi-Polo, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Other Sino-Tibetan people | |
The Tani people refers to the Adi, Apatani, Galo, Mising, Nyishi and Tagin people of India and China. They are part of the Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. Sharing common beliefs and ancestries, they speak various Tani languages and reside in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.
The Tani people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Northeast India, with a population of 2.17 million.
The Chinese government recognises the Tani people as members of the Lhoba people.
History
Most of the residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Upper Assam belong to the six Tani tribes (Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Apatani, Tagin, and Mising) who are all said to be descended from Abotani. Some of the history of the Tani people has been recorded in the ancient libraries of Tibet as the Tani people traded swords and other metals with Tibetans in exchange for meat and wool.
Culture and society
Festivals
Solung
Tribe: Adi
Description
Solung is a major agricultural festival celebrated in early September to mark the harvest. It involves rituals, dances, songs, and community feasts. The festival lasts for about ten days and includes various activities such as animal sacrifices, distribution of rice beer, and performances of traditional dances like Ponung.
Dree
Tribe: Apatani
Description
Celebrated in early July, Dree is an agricultural festival where prayers are offered to deities to ensure a bountiful harvest and to protect crops from pests and diseases. The festival includes sacrificial offerings, traditional songs and dances, and community feasting.
Nyokum
Tribe: Nyishi
Description
Nyokum is celebrated in February and is a communal prayer for prosperity and well-being. The festival involves rituals to appease the gods and spirits, traditional dances, and communal feasts.
Mopin
Tribe: Galo
Description
Celebrated in April, Mopin is a harvest festival seeking prosperity and good health. It involves rituals to worship the goddess Mopin Ane. The festival features dances such as Popir, the preparation of rice beer called Apong, and communal feasting.
Si-Donyi
Tribe: Tagin
Description
Celebrated in January, Si-Donyi is a festival to worship the earth and the sun. It includes rituals seeking for well-being and fertility, traditional dances, and community gatherings.
Ali-Aye-Ligang
Tribe: Mising
Description
Celebrated in February, Ali-Aye-Ligang marks the beginning of the sowing season. It includes rituals to the earth goddess for a good harvest, traditional dances, songs, and feasting on rice and fish.
Language
The languages spoken by the Tani people are part of the larger Sino-Tibetan language family, which includes languages spoken in China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
Tonal nature
Some of the Tani language are tonal, meaning that the meaning of a word can change based on its tone.
Oral tradition
Historically, these languages were primarily oral. However, with increased literacy and the influence of education, Roman scripts have been adopted for writing and documentation.
Linguistic research
There has been growing interest in documenting and studying these languages to preserve their unique linguistic heritage, given the pressures of modernization and the influence of more dominant languages in the region.
References
- Riba, Tomo (5 March 2013). Shifting Cultivation and Tribal Culture of Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Rubi Enterprise. ISBN 9789843373045.
- "North East India Tribal Odyssey ~ A journey across the region to visit the life, culture, traditions and heritage of the indigenous people of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland". Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve ~ Tour Packages & Safari Bookings Official. 14 February 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
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