Oriah is the most prominently and enthusiastically celebrated annual festival throughout the Wancho area In Andhra Pradesh. Usually, Oriah is celebrated at the beginning of the spring season. It lasts for the whole season in the Wancho area because it is celebrated on different dates in different villages, as per the decision of the respective village Ngo-Wang. The date is announced by the respective village Ngo-Wang according to the lunar calendar they maintain. Generally it is celebrated in the first half of the lunar month.
Oriah is celebrated by the Wanchos since time immemorial in
their respective villages. But it was in 1975 that the first common Oriah was
celebrated at Kanubari. The date was later on fixed by the government of
Arunachal Pradesh. Since then, the common Oriah is celebrated on 16 February
every year.
The people cut the forest, burn it and clear the jhum plot
by the month of January-February (Wancho month Tchang). When the plot is ready,
millet is sown ceremonially. A small hut, which is called taap, is built in the
field. During all these works, the people have no time to rest. After toiling
hard for completion of these works, they get time for leisure and merrymaking.
This period is meant for the Oriah. The deep meaning of Oriah is prayer and
celebration. ‘O’ stands for the sacred offering to the Jowaan for bumper crop
and prosperity and ‘Riah’ stands for the leisure and celebration. So Oriah
means prayer and celebration.
The most important feature of Oriah festival is the
procurement and installation of a sacred bamboo called zangwaan, with seven
branches. These seven branches stand for the seven main crops of the Wanchos.
They are: hikha (millet), tchah (paddy), ‘to’ (colocasia), zaampa/sowing
(maize), pankhan (tapioca), ophom (a kind of leafy vegetable), nam (till), tula
(yeast millet), and nyepho-phiasa (pulses).
Zangwaan is the central feature of Oriah festival. In the
village, the zangwaan is procured, decorated and installed at the sacred
platform called zangwaantong, near the village’s sacred grove called sautong,
which generally is in front of the village chief. This duty is performed by the
traditionally appointed and assigned youths of Paanu and Paasa.
Zangwaan is the symbol of Oriah festival. It is also the
symbol of Wancho culture and Wancho Wanlam. People offer their prayers for rich
harvest in the agricultural fields, good health and prosperity of the people
and wellbeing of the people. Wanchos worship nature since time immemorial. The
people give equal importance to land, water, forests and animal species.
Destruction of nature is considered destruction of human life itself. Protection
of environment and maintaining ecological balance is a prime concern of the
people. So the zangwaan is installed after purification as a symbol of nature.
Only a specified variety of bamboo species called Zo is used in the
construction of the zangwantong. Zo is the species which is of multi-utility,
unlike other bamboo varieties.
On the arrival of the spring season, every Wancho prepares
and waits for Oriah. Menfolk sing “Zangwaanngoihai… ku ae ponglang-laahuak le
taan tai aa…,” which means, “O Zangwaan, I am waiting for your arrival with
sacrificed cattle and pigs.” When the zangwaan is procured and decorated, it is
purified by offering rice beer (ju-o). We chant “Zangwaannu…
posheylohleyngoihai o…,” which means, “Zangwaannu, come with abundant flowers
and fruits.” With the passage of time, we have done away with the practice of
sacrificing live animals to purify the sacred Zangwaan. We perform the ju-o,
where the purest form of rice beer is offered. We chant “Zangwaannu…
hanpohanjiaksaaitohpha o,” which means. “O Zangwannu, sow your flowers and
fruits in the form of rich harvest and prosperity.”
Once the date is announced, the preparation for Oriah starts
in full swing. On an appointed day, the zangwaan is installed and Oriah starts
with the sacrifice of cattle and pigs for feast. The womenfolk prepare sticky
rice (zaam) and sticky millet (hinai) in bamboo tubes for offering to Zangwaan
and also for consumption. It is called sahphat. The Bonu Nyih and Bosa Nyih are
the main days for the performance of dance at the Zangwaantong. It is a time of
great rejoicing among the people. Relatives and friends exchange meat, drinks
and gifts. Feasting, singing and dancing have no limit.
Wanchos believe in the existence of an almighty, omnipotent,
omnipresent and omniscient god whom they call Jowaan Zang. Jowaan Zang means
the god in the sky. Jowaan is not the name of the god; jowaan means simply
‘god’. The people live their life following and keeping the sanctity of the
Waanlam, i.e., the code of living as given by God. The people are believers of
Jowaan and followers of the Waanlam, which we can call indigenous faith or way
of worship.
Wanchos celebrate a number of fairs and festivals, such as
Oriah, Lauden, Sahchawan, Pungzm, etc. All these festivals differ in the time
of celebration, type of rituals performed and place or location of the
celebration. But people being agrarian, most of these festivals are related to
the agricultural processes and Mother Nature. The almighty god Jowan Zang is
invoked by uttering its name while offering rice beer. The act of performing
this ritual is called Ju-O.