Dree Celebration 2008

4^th July

Time 3.30 pm: I am thinking of capturing the Dree Celebration on 5^th on my camera but am clueless on when to proceed to Dree Ground at old Ziro or when the programme would start the next day.

Time 5.30 pm: I got chance to go through the invitation card of Dree Celebration at one of friends house. The programme overleaf says:

0800 Hrs: Gathering at Dree Ground.
0930 Hrs: Arrival of Chief Guest.

With the details of programme the next day handy, I am thinking of making it to Dree Ground before 0930 Hrs the next day.

5^th July

As late riser as I’m, I got up at around 7.30 am only to find that the Rain God has not been so kind. There have been heavy downpour since last night and it still is continuing. I’m not able to make out if I should proceed to Dree Ground or not or if it, at all would be possible to take any photos in such inclement weather (my camera is not water proof….gee.. :().

Time 9.25 am: Despite the heavy rain I finally make up my mind to go to Dree Ground at Old Ziro, to be part of the celebration, if not capturing the event. And with me, I tag my camera along; still unsure if I would be able to put it to use. I think of capturing whatever fancies me at the celebration ground if Rain God permits.

Time 9.45 am: I reach Dree Ground feeling bit annoyed with myself for not making it to ground on time prior to arrival of Chief Guests. But, where are the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor? They have not arrived yet.Meanwhile, the overcast subsides and the Rain God shy away paving way for bright sunshine, to the much relief of people gathered in the ground for celebration. It’s been an hour now waiting for the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor to arrive.

Time 10.45 am: Finally, Chief Guest Nido Pavitra, Hon’ble MLA Raga and Guest of Honor Ms. Bandhana Deori, IRS, Secretary Tourism & UD, Government of Arunachal Pradesh arrives along with the CDFC Chairman. What took them so long to reach the venue when they were putting up at Ziro since the previous day? Oh! I should have known what schedule means to the politicians.

Guest, Guest of Honor and CDFC Chairman pose with Dree 'Nyibu'

Time 11.10 am (roughly): With invocation of Dree spirits and hoisting of Dree flag over and with inclement weather paving way for sunshine, I let my camera take charge.

Camera Crew of Local Cable Network covering the celebration

Team Leader..Eh! A Japanese Tourist matching steps with Daminda Team

Turn of the Apatanis'-known for their hospitality to felicitate the Japanese friends who so enthusiastically took part in the celebration

With foreign tourists flocking Ziro to withness the celebration, I am thinking is it the dawn of cultural tourism.

Eiffel Tower for sale, any takers?

Pinta at Dree Altar

Who's the Subject?

Time around 2.30 pm: ‘Nikung Dapo’, Apatani Dictionary by Habung Donyi (New Edition) and 'Ditung Potung' of Hija released.

Time 3.20 pm: Feeling bit tired and bored to hell with the speeches delivered, I decide to retreat back to my home.

6^th July

Time 2.30 pm: Cho called on to ask if I would be interested in going to Dree Ground to witness draw of Dree Lottery. With the sun blazing down fiercely since yesterday, almost making me sleepy and lazy, I am not in a mood to venture outside from the comfort of my home. Half heartedly, I give him an affirmative reply. From inside, I am praying that he would cancel his plan to go to Dree ground.

Time 2.35 pm: Cho along with Tallo knocks the door. There is no other option left with me but for tagging along with them to Dree Ground. I console myself telling myself that I will be witnessing the Dree Lottery Draw, which has earned a name for itself for it’s fairness in draw.
Time 4.00 pm: Draw begins and it indeed is a very fair draw without any scope of cheating the ticket holders.

A policeman and a lottery ticket holder inspecting the tambola used for draw

Time 5.30 pm: Our ticket numbers are not in the list of numbers drawn and we are heading back to Hapoli a little disappointed with our lucks :(

Dree Celebration 2008

4^th July

Time 3.30 pm: I am thinking of capturing the Dree Celebration on 5^th on my camera but am clueless on when to proceed to Dree Ground at old Ziro or when the programme would start the next day.

Time 5.30 pm: I got chance to go through the invitation card of Dree Celebration at one of friends house. The programme overleaf says:

0800 Hrs: Gathering at Dree Ground.
0930 Hrs: Arrival of Chief Guest.

With the details of programme the next day handy, I am thinking of making it to Dree Ground before 0930 Hrs the next day.

5^th July

As late riser as I’m, I got up at around 7.30 am only to find that the Rain God has not been so kind. There have been heavy downpour since last night and it still is continuing. I’m not able to make out if I should proceed to Dree Ground or not or if it, at all would be possible to take any photos in such inclement weather (my camera is not water proof….gee.. :().

Time 9.25 am: Despite the heavy rain I finally make up my mind to go to Dree Ground at Old Ziro, to be part of the celebration, if not capturing the event. And with me, I tag my camera along; still unsure if I would be able to put it to use. I think of capturing whatever fancies me at the celebration ground if Rain God permits.

Time 9.45 am: I reach Dree Ground feeling bit annoyed with myself for not making it to ground on time prior to arrival of Chief Guests. But, where are the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor? They have not arrived yet.Meanwhile, the overcast subsides and the Rain God shy away paving way for bright sunshine, to the much relief of people gathered in the ground for celebration. It’s been an hour now waiting for the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor to arrive.

Time 10.45 am: Finally, Chief Guest Nido Pavitra, Hon’ble MLA Raga and Guest of Honor Ms. Bandhana Deori, IRS, Secretary Tourism & UD, Government of Arunachal Pradesh arrives along with the CDFC Chairman. What took them so long to reach the venue when they were putting up at Ziro since the previous day? Oh! I should have known what schedule means to the politicians.

Guest, Guest of Honor and CDFC Chairman pose with Dree 'Nyibu'

Time 11.10 am (roughly): With invocation of Dree spirits and hoisting of Dree flag over and with inclement weather paving way for sunshine, I let my camera take charge.

Camera Crew of Local Cable Network covering the celebration

Team Leader..Eh! A Japanese Tourist matching steps with Daminda Team

Turn of the Apatanis'-known for their hospitality to felicitate the Japanese friends who so enthusiastically took part in the celebration

With foreign tourists flocking Ziro to withness the celebration, I am thinking is it the dawn of cultural tourism.

Eiffel Tower for sale, any takers?

Pinta at Dree Altar

Who's the Subject?

Time around 2.30 pm: ‘Nikung Dapo’, Apatani Dictionary by Habung Donyi (New Edition) and 'Ditung Potung' of Hija released.

Time 3.20 pm: Feeling bit tired and bored to hell with the speeches delivered, I decide to retreat back to my home.

6^th July

Time 2.30 pm: Cho called on to ask if I would be interested in going to Dree Ground to witness draw of Dree Lottery. With the sun blazing down fiercely since yesterday, almost making me sleepy and lazy, I am not in a mood to venture outside from the comfort of my home. Half heartedly, I give him an affirmative reply. From inside, I am praying that he would cancel his plan to go to Dree ground.

Time 2.35 pm: Cho along with Tallo knocks the door. There is no other option left with me but for tagging along with them to Dree Ground. I console myself telling myself that I will be witnessing the Dree Lottery Draw, which has earned a name for itself for it’s fairness in draw.
Time 4.00 pm: Draw begins and it indeed is a very fair draw without any scope of cheating the ticket holders.

A policeman and a lottery ticket holder inspecting the tambola used for draw

Time 5.30 pm: Our ticket numbers are not in the list of numbers drawn and we are heading back to Hapoli a little disappointed with our lucks :(

Dree Greetings

Transplantation of saplings from nurseries to the paddy fields over…time has come again to pray to Mother Nature for pest free and favorable weather for bountiful crop and rich harvest….time has come again to indulge ourselves into annual agricultural festival Dree…..and time has come again for Arunachal Diary to wish it’s readers’ a Happy Dree. (For those uninitiated refer this post to know the mythology behind Dree)

People of Ziro-Hapoli Township would be observing Dree on 5^th and 6^th July at Dree Ground, Old Ziro.

P.S. Owing to the disruption in Broadband as well as dial up connectivity at Ziro due to June 14^th torrential rain, the posting in Arunachal Diary would be intermittent till the connectivity at Ziro-Hapoli is restored. Till then do bear with me.

Dree Greetings

Transplantation of saplings from nurseries to the paddy fields over…time has come again to pray to Mother Nature for pest free and favorable weather for bountiful crop and rich harvest….time has come again to indulge ourselves into annual agricultural festival Dree…..and time has come again for Arunachal Diary to wish it’s readers’ a Happy Dree. (For those uninitiated refer this post to know the mythology behind Dree)

People of Ziro-Hapoli Township would be observing Dree on 5^th and 6^th July at Dree Ground, Old Ziro.

P.S. Owing to the disruption in Broadband as well as dial up connectivity at Ziro due to June 14^th torrential rain, the posting in Arunachal Diary would be intermittent till the connectivity at Ziro-Hapoli is restored. Till then do bear with me.

DSC-A Clinches the Dree Football Tournament 2008 trophy

Though there was only three votes in the Arunachal Diary Poll, but they predicted pretty correctly. DSC-A has clinched the Dree Football Tournament 2008 title by beating AHSA by 1 goal to nil 4-3 in a tie breaker.

The celebration is on full swing with traffic at Hapoli Township being jammed by the supporters and team members, who has taken out procession in their vehicles. Oh! How I wished I had my camera handy with me to capture the moment.

Well, time to join the celebration now.