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Adi people

February 08, 2024

The Adi people are one of the most populous groups of indigenous peoples in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. A few thousand are also found in the Tibet Autonomous Region, where they are called the Lhoba together with some of the Nyishi people, Na people, Mishmi people and Tagin people.

Adi
an elderly Adi women from Arunachal Pradesh singing a folk song
Regions with significant populations
 IndiaN/A
           Arunachal PradeshN/A
 ChinaN/A
           TibetN/A
Languages
Tani languages
Related ethnic groups
Tani people

They live in a region of the Southern Himalayas which falls within the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Mainling, Lhunze, Zayu, Medog, and Nyingchi counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The present habitat of the Adi people is heavily influenced by the historic location of the ancient Lhoyu. They are found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions within the districts of Siang, East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Lohit, Shi Yomi and Namsai within Arunachal Pradesh. The term "Adi" however, is not to be confused with the Lhoba people, since the Lhoba also includes the Mishmi along with the Adi people. All the ethnic groups recognizing themselves as "Adi" are believed to be descendants of the Abutani/Abotani. The older term Abor is an exonym from Assamese and its literal meaning is "independent". The literal meaning of adi is "hill" or "mountain top".

Organisation of the community edit

The Adi live in hill villages, each traditionally keeping to itself, under a selected chief styled Gam or Gao Burra who moderates the village council, which acts even as the traditional court, referred to as a Kebang. The olden day councils consisted of all the village elders and decisions were decided in a Musup/Dere (village community house).

Language edit

Adi
(not a single language)
Abor, Lhoba
Native toIndia, China
RegionArunachal Pradesh, India and Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Native speakers
150,000 total for the various languages (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetan
  • Tani
    • (some East Tani, some West Tani)
      • Adi
Latin
Language codes
ISO 639-3adi
GlottologNone
ELPAdi
 
Speakers of Adi by Indian district
 
Adi is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger

The various languages and dialects of the Adi people fall into two groups: Abor (Abor-Minyong, Bor-abor (Padam), Abor-Miri, etc.) and Lhoba (Lho-Pa, Luoba).

Adi literature has been developed by Christian missionaries since 1900. The missionaries J. H. Lorrain and F. W. Savidge published an Abor-Miri Dictionary[2] in 1906 with the help of Mupak Mili and Atsong Pertin, considered the fathers of the Adi language or Adi script.[clarification needed][3]

Adi[which?] is taught as a third language in schools of communities dominated by the Adi.[4]

The Adi speak Hindi as a lingua-franca for communicating with other indigenous groups of people in Arunachal Pradesh and the other northeast states.

Culture edit

A documentary film produced by RIWATCH depicting the cultural heritage and lifestyles of Adi people in Arunachal Pradesh.

Dormitories play an important role among the Adi people, and certain rules governing the dormitories are observed. For example, a male can visit the dormitory of a female, although he is not allowed to stay overnight. At times, guardians will have to be around to guide the youngsters.

There are separate dresses for women and men which are woven by women of the tribes. Helmets made from cane, bear, and deerskin are sometimes worn by the men, depending on the region.

While the older women wear yellow necklaces and spiral earrings, unmarried girls wear a beyop, an ornament that consists of five to six brass plates fixed under their petticoats. Tattooing was popular among the older women.

The traditional measure of a family's wealth is the possession of domestic animals (particularly gayals), beads and ornaments, and land.

Festivals and dances edit

The Adi celebrate a number of festivals, in particular, their prime festivals are Aran, Donggin, Solung, Podi Barbii and Etor. Solung is observed in the first week of September for five days or more. It is a harvest festival performed after the sowing of seeds and transplantation, to seek for future bumper crops. Ponung songs and dances are performed by women folk during the festival. On the last day of Solung, throne and indigenous weaponry are displayed along the passage of the houses – a belief that they would protect people from evil spirits (This ritual is called Taktor).

 
Traditional basket of the Adi people

Adi dances vary from the slow, rustic and beautifully enchanting Ponung style (performed in Solung festival) to the exhilarating, exuberant thumps of Delong performed by men during the Etor festival. These dances have led to certain forms of dancing which jointly narrate a story, the Tapu (War Dance). In the Tapu, the dancers vigorously re-enact the actions of war, its gory details and the triumphant cries of the warriors. Yakjong is performed in the Aran festival. This is another kind of dance whereby the dancers carry sticks with designs created by removing the barks in certain patterns and then put into the fire for some time, which creates the marked black designs.

Name of festival Dates
Donggin February 2
Aran or Unying March 7
Etor (Lutor) May 15
Solung (Lune) September 1
Podi Barbii December 5

Lifestyle edit

 
A traditional Adi hut

The Adi practice wet rice cultivation and have a considerable agricultural economy. Rice serves as the staple food for them along with meat and other vegetables

Religion edit

The majority of Adi traditionally follow the tribal Donyi-Polo religion. Worship of gods and goddesses like Kine Nane, Doying Bote, Gumin Soyin and Pedong Nane, etc., and religious observances are led by a shaman, called Miri (can be a female). Each deity is associated with certain tasks and acts as a protector and guardian of various topics related to nature which revolves around their daily life. This includes the food crops, home, rain, etc.

Adi in Tibet, in particular the Bokars, have adopted Tibetan Buddhism to a certain extent, as a result of Tibetan influence. However, in recent years a revival in indigenous identity on the part of the Tibetan Adi people has made traditional religion popular with the youth again. In modern times, a few Adi people have converted to Christianity. But been increasing and call of local leaders to stop converting and demographics shift.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Adi at Ethnologue (24th ed., 2021)  
  2. ^ Lorrain, J. H. (reprinted 1995). A dictionary of the Abor-Miri language. Mittal Publications.
  3. ^ . Archived from the original on 2015-02-01. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  4. ^ . Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2019-01-12.

References edit

  • Danggen, Bani. (2003). The kebang: A unique indigenous political institution of the Adis. Delhi: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 81-86393-51-X
  • Hamilton, A. (1983 [1912]). In Abor jungles of north-east India. Delhi: Mittal Publications.
  • Dr.Milorai Modi (2007). The Milangs. Delhi: Himalayan Publications.
  • Mibang, Tamo; & Chaudhuri, S. K. (Eds.) (2004). Understanding tribal religion. New Delhi: Mittal. ISBN 81-7099-945-6.
  • Mibang, Tamo; & Chaudhuri, S. K. (Eds.) (2004). Folk culture and oral literature from north-east India. New Delhi: Mittal. ISBN 81-7099-911-1.
  • Lego, N. N. (1992). British relations with the Adis, 1825-1947. New Delhi: Omsons Publications. ISBN 81-7117-097-8.
  • BBC TV program Tribe, episode on the Adi; explorer Bruce Parry lived among them for a month as an honorary tribesman, 'adopted' by a village gam.
  • Nyori, Tai (1993). History and Culture of the Adis, Omsons Publications, New Delhi-110 027.
  • Danggen, Bani. (2003). A book of conversation: A help book for English to Adi conversation. Itanagar: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 81-86393-50-1.
  • Mibang, Tamo; & Abraham, P. T. (2001). An introduction to Adi language. Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh: Himalayan Publishers. ISBN 81-86393-35-8.

Further reading edit

  • Lalrempuii, C. (2011). "Morphology of the Adi language of Arunachal Pradesh" (Doctoral dissertation).
  • Nyori, T. (1988). Origin of the name 'Abor'/'Adi'. In Proceedings of North East India History Association (Vol. 9, p. 95). The Association.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adi people.
  • BBC: Adi Tribe
  • Adi Audio Sample at the Endangered Languages Project

February 08, 2024
people, most, populous, groups, indigenous, peoples, indian, state, arunachal, pradesh, thousand, also, found, tibet, autonomous, region, where, they, called, lhoba, together, with, some, nyishi, people, people, mishmi, people, tagin, people, adian, elderly, w. The Adi people are one of the most populous groups of indigenous peoples in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh A few thousand are also found in the Tibet Autonomous Region where they are called the Lhoba together with some of the Nyishi people Na people Mishmi people and Tagin people Adian elderly Adi women from Arunachal Pradesh singing a folk songRegions with significant populations IndiaN A Arunachal PradeshN A ChinaN A TibetN ALanguagesTani languagesRelated ethnic groupsTani peopleThey live in a region of the Southern Himalayas which falls within the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Mainling Lhunze Zayu Medog and Nyingchi counties in the Tibet Autonomous Region China The present habitat of the Adi people is heavily influenced by the historic location of the ancient Lhoyu They are found in the temperate and sub tropical regions within the districts of Siang East Siang Upper Siang West Siang Lower Dibang Valley Lohit Shi Yomi and Namsai within Arunachal Pradesh The term Adi however is not to be confused with the Lhoba people since the Lhoba also includes the Mishmi along with the Adi people All the ethnic groups recognizing themselves as Adi are believed to be descendants of the Abutani Abotani The older term Abor is an exonym from Assamese and its literal meaning is independent The literal meaning of adi is hill or mountain top Contents 1 Organisation of the community 2 Language 3 Culture 3 1 Festivals and dances 4 Lifestyle 5 Religion 6 Notes 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksOrganisation of the community editThe Adi live in hill villages each traditionally keeping to itself under a selected chief styled Gam or Gao Burra who moderates the village council which acts even as the traditional court referred to as a Kebang The olden day councils consisted of all the village elders and decisions were decided in a Musup Dere village community house Language editIt has been suggested that this section be split out into another article titled Adi languages Discuss February 2023 Adi not a single language Abor LhobaNative toIndia ChinaRegionArunachal Pradesh India and Tibet Autonomous Region ChinaNative speakers150 000 total for the various languages 2011 census 1 Language familySino Tibetan Tani some East Tani some West Tani AdiWriting systemLatinLanguage codesISO 639 3 a href https iso639 3 sil org code adi class extiw title iso639 3 adi adi a GlottologNoneELPAdi nbsp Speakers of Adi by Indian district nbsp Adi is classified as Vulnerable by the UNESCO Atlas of the World s Languages in DangerThe various languages and dialects of the Adi people fall into two groups Abor Abor Minyong Bor abor Padam Abor Miri etc and Lhoba Lho Pa Luoba Adi literature has been developed by Christian missionaries since 1900 The missionaries J H Lorrain and F W Savidge published an Abor Miri Dictionary 2 in 1906 with the help of Mupak Mili and Atsong Pertin considered the fathers of the Adi language or Adi script clarification needed 3 Adi which is taught as a third language in schools of communities dominated by the Adi 4 The Adi speak Hindi as a lingua franca for communicating with other indigenous groups of people in Arunachal Pradesh and the other northeast states Culture editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed February 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message source source source source source source source source A documentary film produced by RIWATCH depicting the cultural heritage and lifestyles of Adi people in Arunachal Pradesh Dormitories play an important role among the Adi people and certain rules governing the dormitories are observed For example a male can visit the dormitory of a female although he is not allowed to stay overnight At times guardians will have to be around to guide the youngsters There are separate dresses for women and men which are woven by women of the tribes Helmets made from cane bear and deerskin are sometimes worn by the men depending on the region While the older women wear yellow necklaces and spiral earrings unmarried girls wear a beyop an ornament that consists of five to six brass plates fixed under their petticoats Tattooing was popular among the older women The traditional measure of a family s wealth is the possession of domestic animals particularly gayals beads and ornaments and land Festivals and dances edit The Adi celebrate a number of festivals in particular their prime festivals are Aran Donggin Solung Podi Barbii and Etor Solung is observed in the first week of September for five days or more It is a harvest festival performed after the sowing of seeds and transplantation to seek for future bumper crops Ponung songs and dances are performed by women folk during the festival On the last day of Solung throne and indigenous weaponry are displayed along the passage of the houses a belief that they would protect people from evil spirits This ritual is called Taktor nbsp Traditional basket of the Adi peopleAdi dances vary from the slow rustic and beautifully enchanting Ponung style performed in Solung festival to the exhilarating exuberant thumps of Delong performed by men during the Etor festival These dances have led to certain forms of dancing which jointly narrate a story the Tapu War Dance In the Tapu the dancers vigorously re enact the actions of war its gory details and the triumphant cries of the warriors Yakjong is performed in the Aran festival This is another kind of dance whereby the dancers carry sticks with designs created by removing the barks in certain patterns and then put into the fire for some time which creates the marked black designs Name of festival DatesDonggin February 2Aran or Unying March 7Etor Lutor May 15Solung Lune September 1Podi Barbii December 5Lifestyle edit nbsp A traditional Adi hutThe Adi practice wet rice cultivation and have a considerable agricultural economy Rice serves as the staple food for them along with meat and other vegetablesReligion editThe majority of Adi traditionally follow the tribal Donyi Polo religion Worship of gods and goddesses like Kine Nane Doying Bote Gumin Soyin and Pedong Nane etc and religious observances are led by a shaman called Miri can be a female Each deity is associated with certain tasks and acts as a protector and guardian of various topics related to nature which revolves around their daily life This includes the food crops home rain etc Adi in Tibet in particular the Bokars have adopted Tibetan Buddhism to a certain extent as a result of Tibetan influence However in recent years a revival in indigenous identity on the part of the Tibetan Adi people has made traditional religion popular with the youth again In modern times a few Adi people have converted to Christianity But been increasing and call of local leaders to stop converting and demographics shift Notes edit Adi at Ethnologue 24th ed 2021 nbsp Lorrain J H reprinted 1995 A dictionary of the Abor Miri language Mittal Publications Adi Agom Kebang Archived from the original on 2015 02 01 Retrieved 2015 05 06 Arunachal to Preserve Dying Local Dialects North East Today Archived from the original on 2018 08 25 Retrieved 2019 01 12 References editDanggen Bani 2003 The kebang A unique indigenous political institution of the Adis Delhi Himalayan Publishers ISBN 81 86393 51 X Hamilton A 1983 1912 In Abor jungles of north east India Delhi Mittal Publications Dr Milorai Modi 2007 The Milangs Delhi Himalayan Publications Mibang Tamo amp Chaudhuri S K Eds 2004 Understanding tribal religion New Delhi Mittal ISBN 81 7099 945 6 Mibang Tamo amp Chaudhuri S K Eds 2004 Folk culture and oral literature from north east India New Delhi Mittal ISBN 81 7099 911 1 Lego N N 1992 British relations with the Adis 1825 1947 New Delhi Omsons Publications ISBN 81 7117 097 8 BBC TV program Tribe episode on the Adi explorer Bruce Parry lived among them for a month as an honorary tribesman adopted by a village gam Nyori Tai 1993 History and Culture of the Adis Omsons Publications New Delhi 110 027 Danggen Bani 2003 A book of conversation A help book for English to Adi conversation Itanagar Himalayan Publishers ISBN 81 86393 50 1 Mibang Tamo amp Abraham P T 2001 An introduction to Adi language Itanagar Arunachal Pradesh Himalayan Publishers ISBN 81 86393 35 8 Further reading editLalrempuii C 2011 Morphology of the Adi language of Arunachal Pradesh Doctoral dissertation Nyori T 1988 Origin of the name Abor Adi In Proceedings of North East India History Association Vol 9 p 95 The Association External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adi people BBC Adi Tribe Research Centre for Linguistic Typology Mark Post fieldworker Adi Audio Sample at the Endangered Languages Project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Adi people amp oldid 1199364267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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