DIBANG VALLEY DISTRICT~

Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh came into existence on 1.6.1980 with an area of 9,129 sq. Km. carved out from the erstwhile Lohit district, with headquarter at Anini. It is named after River Dibang consisting of three major rivers viz, Dri, Mathun and Talon (Dibang) and three other smaller rivers viz, Ahi, Awa and Emra. Areawise it is the largest district of the state. The district is bounded by river Lohit in the South-East, Lower Dibang Valley District in the South, East Siang and Upper Siang in the West and China in the North and North-East. (It is bound by international boundary in the North-West, North and East with Tibet and China. Upper Siang District in the South-West according to some other source)

On 16th December 2001, Dibang Valley District was bifurcated into Upper Dibang Valley District (Dibang Valley District) with headquarter at Anini and Lower Dibang Valley District with headquarter at Roing.

Dibang Valley District is located in the North-Easternmost corner of Arunachal Pradesh of India. The main land stands in between 95°15’ E and 96°35’ E longitudes and 28°22’ N and 29°27’ N latitudes. (Between 95°15’ E and 97°30’ E longitudes and 37°33’ N and 24°30’ N latitudes according to some other source)

According to 2011 census the population of Dibang Valley District is 7,948 (8,004 in some other source). Density of population is 1 person per sq. Km. Rate of literacy is 64.80%. It is the least populated district in India. Mishmi is the major population of the district.

District Headquarter Anini is lying at an altitude of 1968 mtrs above sea level  and its adjoining areas like Mipi, Alinye (ALG), Angrim Valley, Acheso, Dambuen, Mihundo, Ngipulin, etc. are some the potential tourist spots. There are many lakes of various sizes lying hidden high up in the snow-clad mountains which feed the various mighty roaring rivers like Dri, Mathun, Emra, Talon and Ahi besides various streams and innumerable breath-taking waterfalls all round the year.

Several ranges, pine filled mountains and hillocks with meandering rivers are ideal spots for tracking, picnicking, angling and paragliding etc. The upper stretches of Mihundo village is a fit place for rock climbing. Mention may be made of the paragliding that was introduced for the first time at Anini on 17th, Jan’ 03 by the parachuting team of 29 Assam Rifles.

ANINI~

It is a small underdeveloped town, mainly because of its remoteness. Yet, it still has basic road and air links to the rest of India.

Anini's name may have come from Inini or Innini. Historical maps of Arunachal Pradesh from times before the Lower Dibang Valley district was carved out of the Dibang Valley District in 2001, and before Roing was established, indicate the capital of the Dibang Valley District being Inini. That name may have come from the Idu word ‘inni’. Inni/Inyi is the Idu Mishmi's supreme deity or God.

Regarding the history of Anini, the native Idu Mishmis and other tribes were said to have migrated from ancient Tibet back in the 1st or 1st millennium BC. They have been believed to have stopped in Lhoyu. Lhoyu became under Tibetan control around the 7th century. Although inhabited by Idu Mishmis in all that time, it took until the times of North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) and the Britishers for Anini to be officially established. Anini's importance grew during the World War-II, when supplies and troops needed to be sent to China through the Ledo Road in Assam. In 1947, Anini became a part of the Union of India like the rest of India. At this point the Republic of China was free to claim most of Arunachal, making it and Aksai Chin under dispute. The People's Republic of China emerged in 1949, and once the British left in 1950, Arunachal and Aksai Chin were under dispute. Since then, they remained under dispute. In June 1980, the Dibang Valley District was finally carved out of the Lohit District, and Anini was pronounced capital. Since then, Anini has been the only district headquarter without proper road links to the rest of India, for long time.

Most of Anini is located on a miniature plateau between the tributaries of the Dibang river, the Dri River and the Mathun river.

The small settlement of Anini is located at an elevation of 1,968 metres (6,457 ft) above sea level. On the Aninese Plateau, the average elevation is 1,800 meters, but the average elevation of the town is 2,068 meters. According to Google Map's terrain feature, Anini is around 1,600-1,800 meters above sea level and up north of Anini, the elevation can go up to 3,800 meters above sea level. According to the official website of the Dibang Valley District, Anini's altitude is at 1,968 meters above sea level.

ACHESO~

It is the last village before reaching Indo-China border. It is situated inside the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary and located at the uppermost part of Arunachal Pradesh. This crazy beautiful place is known as 'place of rainbows'. The total population of the village is around 30 and there are 10 houses in all. Farming is the major occupation of the village. The people are very helpful and kind and have a robust built. It requires special permission from concerned authorities to go there and the trek to the border is a long and dangerous route and involves badly bitten by wild-mosquito like beings called 'Damdims'. Unlike it, the trek to Acheso from Anini is, though long too, a very scenic one and is safe and very adventurous at the same time. The trip needs some time as bad roads and less no. of vehicles are a trademark in these areas. Best time to visit varies from person to person. The locales say, Acheso has got so much to offer all throughout the year, it's hard to make out which is actually the best time.

MISHMI~

Mishmis are the inhabitants of Lohit Districts and the border area of adjoining district. Mishmis are animist and believe in a number of higher spiritual beings. Kabeya, or Pharai in their traditional village council who exercise the judgment of any disputes comes to their society. The Mishmi society is divided into numbers of sub-tribes such as Idu Mishmis, Digaru Mishmis, Miju Mishmis with more or less distinctive characters on its dresses among themselves. This tribe can be easily distinguished from other by their typical hairstyle.

Their dresses reflect the artistic taste and the cultural thinking of the society. The male dress of Miju and Digaru consist of a sleeveless black or maroon coloured cloth with ornamental boarders and waist cloth with a embroidered flag in the front. They wear a head dress of woven cane. The women wear black skirts with coloured stripes reaching above the ankle and a beautiful embroidered bodice and a shawl. They also wear beautiful ornaments made of silver. The women keep themselves busy in weaving. The men are involved in making cane and bamboo products. The puffing of opium with the help of silver or wooden pipes by both men and women is the part and parcel of their tradition. These people may be termed as festive tribe. Reh is the most important festivals celebrated by Idu Mishmis during the first week of February.

REH FESTIVAL~

The Idu Mishmi people constitute a majority in Dibang Valley District. Reh is one of the most important festival of this tribe. It is generally celebrated for 3 days from 1st to 3rd February every year.

Reh is a vibrant festival of the Idu Mishmi tribe which is observed to seek prosperity and welfare of families and crop. The festival is full of rituals, dances, cuisine and folklore during the celebrations.

The Idu people believe that they are the children of the divine mother ‘Nanyi Inyitaya’ and they can only get her blessings when they perform the rituals and celebrate the Reh. None can get her blessings and keep alive the bond of brotherhood and social feeling strong, unless one performs the rituals or celebrates the Reh festival.

Reh festival starts with the sacrifice of buffaloes. Thus the festival requires a number of sacrificial buffaloes as offering to their supreme deity ‘Nanyi Inyitaya’. Gifts such as money in cash and pigs are given to the relatives. Thus the social bonds are appreciated and respected where relatives are gifted with money and pigs.

Apart from performing the rituals Reh is a joyful occasion for merry making, dancing and enjoying local brews. People start making preparation months before. Outsiders and visitors are always encouraged to take part in merry making with great hospitality. It is a joy to capture colourfull Idu costumes in the backdrop of lush green forests and snow-capped mountains.

The festival being very expensive, all arrangements and preparations for the festival have to be made four or five years before the actual celebration of the festival. As such a person wanting to celebrate this festival has to take resort to the system locally called ‘Ada’ which is nothing but collection of mithuns, pigs, cash, money etc., even by way of loan from others. When ‘Ada’ is completed a tentative year is fixed about one year ahead of the actual celebration. The preparation of rice beer in large scale locally called ‘Yunyiphri’ is under taken, three to four months before the actual celebration.

After all necessary arrangements and preparations are made, ‘Tayi’ a form of calendar is served to all kith and kin as an invitation to come to the celebration on scheduled dates. The ‘Tayi’ is counted by knots on a string and each knot is cut off as a night passes on, one after another. The invited kith and kin arrive at the place of celebration when two knots remain on the string.

The Reh festival is actually celebrated for 6 days.

The first day is called Andropu’. It is observed by offering prayers so that the festival may pass off smoothly. The mithuns are brought and tied near the house. The ‘Naya’ dance is held during the night.

Eyanli is the second day and may be termed as killing day of animals such as mithuns and buffaloes. The guests are entertained with rice, meat and rice beer.

The third day is called ‘Iyili’ and on this day heavy feast is arranged and everybody is entertained. Presents of meal-rice are also supplied to the neighbouring villagers who fail to come to the festival.

Ilyiromunyi is the fourth day of the festival. There is not much feasting on this day. The priest only performs the rituals in favour of worshiper for bestowing upon him wealth, all round prosperity and for general well-being. Omen is observed by pouring ‘Yu’ rice beer into the ears of a pig, bound and laid on the ground. If the pig does not fidget, it is considered evil and result in bad crops, epidemic etc otherwise it is good.

The fifth day is called Aru-Go. On this day the remaining food stuff and other drinks are prepared for the feast and taken with co-villagers.
The sixth day is the concluding day of the festival is known as ‘Etoanu’. On this day the blood smeared seeds are sown in the fields and rice beer is poured at the trunk of the stump for the Goddess of the house hold.