Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR : The All Arunachal Pradesh Priest Welfare Association (AAPPWA) on Thursday voiced strong support for the implementation of the Arunachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 1978 (APFRA), called for the preservation of traditional rituals during the Nyokum Festival, and opposed the demand for government honorariums for Christian priest in the state.

Addressing a press conference at the Arunachal Press Club here, AAPPWA representatives said the indigenous faiths of Arunachal Pradesh form an integral part of the state’s identity, culture, customs, and traditional way of life.

The association urged the state government to take immediate steps for the effective implementation of APFRA, stating that protecting indigenous belief systems is essential for safeguarding the state’s unique heritage for future generations.

Expressing concern over the gradual decline of traditional ritual practices during Nyokum celebrations in various parts of the state, the association emphasized the importance of preserving sacred chants, prayers, rituals, and ceremonial practices performed by senior indigenous priests. It noted that these traditions embody ancestral wisdom and have been passed down orally through generations.

‘Nyokum Yullo is a major agrarian festival celebrated annually by the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh on February 26’.

AAPPWA appealed to all Nyokum Festival Celebration Committees to ensure the active participation of experienced traditional priests and the proper conduct of traditional rituals during festival celebrations. The association warned that failure to preserve these practices could lead to the erosion of indigenous identity and cultural heritage.

The association also strongly opposed recent demands for government honorariums for Christian Fathers/Priests in Arunachal Pradesh. It maintained that indigenous priests are the original custodians of the state’s traditional faiths, customs, rituals, and cultural heritage, and argued that extending government honorariums to religious functionaries of faiths that originated outside the indigenous traditions of Arunachal Pradesh could undermine efforts to preserve and promote indigenous belief systems.

AAPPWA asserted that if the government intends to introduce any policy relating to honorariums or welfare assistance for religious functionaries, priority should be given to indigenous priests who have dedicated their lives to preserving ancestral traditions and cultural heritage.

The association further appealed to the state government to formulate a comprehensive welfare policy for indigenous priests, including official recognition, preservation of traditional knowledge systems, cultural promotion, and financial assistance for elderly priests who continue to serve their communities.

Reiterating its commitment to the protection and promotion of indigenous faiths, customs, rituals, and cultural heritage, AAPPWA called upon indigenous communities, civil society organizations, and the government to work together in safeguarding the ancestral traditions and identity of Arunachal Pradesh.