Apatani Tribes

Apatani Tribe Latest News

The Apatani tribal women of Ziro Valley in Arunachal Pradesh are known for their facial tattoos and wooden nose plugs; banned in the 1970s, but still carried by only older women.

About Apatani Tribe

• The Apatani, or Tanw, also known by Apa and Apa Tani, are a tribal group of people living in the Ziro valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Language: They speak a local language called Tani and worship the sun and the moon.

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Customs and Lifestyle of Apatani Tribe

• Festivals: They have major festivals like Dree, Myoko, Yapung and Murung.
• Dree is celebrated with prayers for a bumper harvest and prosperity of all humankind and Myoka celebrates friendship similar to modern friendship day.
• Tattooing and Nose plug: Apatani women are known for their distinctive facial tattoos and nose plugs — a tradition that began as a means of protection against abduction.
• The nose plugs, called Yaping Hullo, are made from wood found in the forest.
• The tattoos, known as Tippei, are done by the elder women when an Apatani girl is about 10 years old.
• They have been practising integrated rice-fish farming in their mountain terraces of Arunachal Pradesh since the 1960s.
• These tribal people principally use three rice varieties: Emeo, Pyape and Mypia.

Source: TH