Indigenous Faith Day was celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh today with Chief Minsiter Pema Khandu as its Chief Guest.
On the auspicious occasion, the elders were requested by the Chief Minister to give teachings about their native language to their young ones and asked the young ones to practice speaking their native language at least at home. He said, “If any of our language dies, the connect to our cultural identity will die”.
During the lockdown periods few community based organizations conducted folklore/folksong competitions on social media platforms, which the Chief Minister highly appreciated. Education and Indigenous Affairs minister Taba Tedir, Rajya Sabha Member Nabam Rebia, senior leaders, IFCSAP members, representatives from districts and others also attended the celebration.
The celebration was organized at Jubilee ground. To create an ambience of festivity, communities from all faith & culture assembled in their best traditional attire, amid pandemic situation. Tasaso Yun, Senior social worker of the Mishmi community enlightened on the importance of ‘Indigenous Faith Day’ and requested that everybody should carry forward in one’s life emulating their offspring ensuring better protection, promotion and preservation of old – age cultural heritage of Arunachal.
Under the aegis of IFCSAP, the Indigenous Faith Day was previously celebrated on 31st December every year. But since 1st December happened to be the birth anniversary of Golgi Bote Talom Rukbo,who is believed as the father of the indigenous faith movement, the celebration day shifted from 31st December to December 1st since 2013.