Apatani women - Arunachal Pradesh - India
The Apatani, or Tanii, are a tribal group of about 26,000 (approximately) in Ziro in the Apatani plateau in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh India. However more Apatanis live outside this plateau, making the total population to approximately 60,000 all over the state. Their language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan family. The dress of the Apatanis is elaborate and colorful, yet simple in style. Tattooing and the stuffing of large nose plugs (yaping hullo) were once popular among the women, although this practice has gradually fallen into decline in recent years. This practice is believed to have started because the women wanted to look unattractive to males from neighboring tribes. Apatani women were considered to be the most beautiful ones among all the Arunachal tribes. Younger members of this community have stopped this traditional practice. Traditionally, the men tie their hair in a knot just above the forehead (locally called piiding) using a brass rod (piiding khotu) measuring 12 inches, placed horizontally. Most Apatanis are loyal followers of the Danyi-Piilo faith, who pray to the Sun (Ayo Danyii) and the Moon (Atoh Piilo). Abotani is revered as the sole ancestor of all Apatani and other tribes in the surrounding regions. When a misfortune occurs, they believe that it is caused by certain evil spirits, and thus they make appeasement by sacrificing chickens, cows and other domestic animals. Myoko, the festival of friendship and prosperity, is celebrated in a grand manner lasting for all of March each year. Dree, celebrated in July, is the main agricultural festival of the Apatanis.