The Cat has finally been belled........ A step towards reformation

With the passage of time, the system, the culture and the tradition changes- albeit some for good and some for worse - to accommodate the changes that are taking place in this ever-changing world. And the Apatani culture, system and tradition is no exception.

With increase in earning power, the rituals, which were otherwise being conducted in a very simple fashion, were made extravagant creating hardship for those with less or almost no income source except for agricultural produce (Apatani’s being highly egoist and snobbish would try to equal the extravagancies of the rich even if they have no source of income inviting more hardships). Everyone felt that this extravagancy in the celebration of rituals be curbed. But the million dollar question was “who will bell the cat?” No one was ready to perform the rituals as was done before – God knows why?- even though they criticized the extravagancy in the performance of rituals.

Now someone had to take the initiative and bell the cat.

After lots of deliberations by the Apatani Literary and Cultural Society, village elders, intellectuals and others alike, “Hari Village Welfare Committee” initiated the process of fixing the escalating rates of marriage system for Hari Village and brought out a resolution on 05-10-2006. The brief of resolution are as below:

I. Mabo Iinchi Nii (Social Recognition of Marriage): Mabo iinchi member was restricted to 5 (five) from earlier unspecified number of members and Mabo ilyo was fixed either a Tibetan sword (ilyo chiri) or Rs. 3000.00/- (Rupees Three thousand) only in lieu of the sword.

Aari Paniing:

1. Diirang: Either Rs. 22,000.00/- or one he mithun and one she mithun with about 4-5 inches length of horn as Datii Mida (Santii Siipa)

or

either Rs. 12,000/- or one she-mithun with about 3 inches long horn as Dachi Mida (Tama Siipa)

or

Rs. 6000/- as Diirang Diipa either for Datii or Dachi Mida.

2. Lache-1(One) no.:Either Rs. 22,000.00/- or one he mithun and one she mithun with about 4-5 inches length of horn as Lache for Datii Mida (Santii Siipa)

or

either Rs. 12,000/- or one she-mithun with about 3 inches long horn as Lache for Dachi Mida (Tama Siipa)

or

Rs. 3000/- as Lache Diipa either for Datii or Dachi Mida

or

Rs. 8000/- without Alla Agga or Rs. 9000/- with Alla Agga as Myoko Elli.

3. Mechu- 2 (two nos.): Either Rs. 22,000.00/- or one he mithun and one she mithun with about 4-5 inches length of horn each as Datii Mida (Santii Siipa)

or

either Rs. 12,000/- or one she-mithun with about 3 inches long horn each as Dachi Mida (Tama Siipa)

or

Rs. 1000/- each as Diirang Diipa either for Datii or Dachi Mida

or

either Rs.2000/- each without Alla Agga or Rs. 3000/- each with Alla Agga as Myoko Elli

or

Rs. 6000/- as Konchi Mida Aari Sarnii.

II. Mida: A ritual ceremony performed in reciprocation to Aari Paniing wherein, the well being of bridegroom's family is prayed upon for. There are three types of Mida as under:

1. Datii Mida (Santi Siipa)
2. Dachi Mida (Tama Siipa) and
3. Konchi Mida (Peja Siipa)

Dati Mida (Santi Siipa):

• Yapyo Pyota : Yo Anii Bare
• Danii : Rs. 6000.00/-
• Dapo : Rs. 6000.00/-
• Punko Biyu : Rs. 4000.00/- or Yo Anii Bare
• Alla Agga : Rs. 4000.00/- or Yo Anii Bare
• Bujje (5 nos.)

1. Bujje Hengi Nanii : Rs. 4000.00/-
2. Bujje Tanyi Nii : Rs. 3500.00/-
3. Bujje Tahingnii : Rs. 3000.00/-
4. Bujje Tahpinii : Rs. 2500.00/-
5. Bujje Tanghonii : Rs. 2000.00/-

• Saapi (5 Nos.)

1. Saapi Hengi Nanii : Rs. 3500.00/-
2. Saapi Tanyi Nii : Rs. 3000.00/-
3. Saapi Tahingnii : Rs. 2500.00/-
4. Saapi Tahpinii : Rs. 2000.00/-
5. Saapi Tanghonii : Rs. 1500.00/-

• Nima (4 nos.) : Rs. 1000.00/- each i.e., Rs. 4000.00/-
• Anii-Aba : Rs. 3000.00/- or Yo Anii Bare
• Gyuntang : Rs. 3000.00/- or Rs. 2000.00/- plus yo gohye soye
• Sii Bonii : Rs. 2500.00/-
• Yo Kanii : Rs. 2000.00/-
• Mijji : Rs. 1600.00/- plus yo soye
• Liihi (5 nos.) : Rs. 1000.00/- each (i.e., Rs. 5000.00/-)
• Mabo Yallo Majji : Rs. 2000.00/- or One Majji

Dachi Mida (Tama Siipa)

1. Yapyo Pyota : Yo Anii Bare
2. Danii : Rs. 6000.00/-
3. Dapo : Rs. 6000.00/-
4. Alla Agga : Rs. 4000.00/- or Yo Anii Bare
5. Paanyi Asso (10 nos.) : Rs. 700.00/- each (i.e., Rs. 7000.00/-)
6. Anii-Aba : Rs. 3000.00/- or Yo Anii Bare
7. Gyuntang : Rs. 3000.00/- or Rs. 2000.00/- plus yo gohye soye
8. Sii Bonii : Rs. 2500.00/-
9. Yo Kanii : Rs. 2000.00/-
10. Mijji : Rs. 1600.00/- plus yo soye
11. Liihi (4 nos.) : Rs. 1000.00/- each
12. Mabo Yallo Majji : Rs. 2000.00/- or One Majji

Konchi Mida (Pejja Siipa)

1. Mihi-Millo Pa : Yo anii barnhye
   
2. Gyuntang : Rs. 600.00/- or yo soye
3. Mijji : Rs. 500.00/- or yo soye
4. Sii Bonii : Rs. 500.00/- or yo soye

III. Elli Baniing:

1. Emmo Kulyiho (Nesu Arang ho) : Rs. 20.00/- each
2. Ude ho : Yo pernhye plus papu (egg) puye
3. Alli patre punii mi : Rs. 100.00/- or kubu gaye
4. Diirang diinii mi : Rs. 100.00/- or kubu gaye
5. Lache diinii mi : Rs. 100.00/- or kubu gaye
6. Mechu diinii mi (2 nos.) : Rs. 100.00/- each or kubu gaye each
7. Aato Aayo mi : Rs. 100.00/- or kubu gaye
8. Doi ajing (Max. 4 nos.) : Rs. 50.00/- each

Note:

1. Takhii and Yajju are mandatory in all mida
2. Distribution of Extravagant (additional) miscellaneous items such as bottle of wine, packet of tea leaves, powder milk, tobacco, salt, sugar, biscuit etc., presently being practiced are totally banned and violator will be imposed a fine of one full grown mithun or Rs. 15,000.00/- by the Committee.
3. The resolution will be reviewed after 5 years from the date of constitution of the Committee.

(I have tried to reproduce exactly the same word as printed on the resolution, however, at certain part I've taken liberty to modify the words for sake of clarity)

The adoption of resolution for solemnising marriage by "Hari Village Welfare Committee" is being appreciated by almost every individauls of this plateau and the people from Hari Village, those who performed the marriage rituals this year, followed the rituals strictly as per the rules set in the resolution and it is being heard that the other villages are also following suit.

Going by the reactions of people to this initiative, it is felt that it won't be long when there will be uniform system for solemnising the marriage in each and every villages of Apatani Plateau. Also, may I presume (I'm taking liberty in presuming the things) that this initiative has awakened the people and now the people will try to bring in changes in the system if it is felt that the system has some drawbacks that has to be set right; instead of just criticising the system and waiting to see "who will bell the Cat?"