Si Doni is a festival of the Tagin tribe of
Arunachal Pradesh. It is celebrated during the month of January and is related to prosperity and success.
'Si' means earth and 'Doni' means the sun. The festival is dedicated to the Sun, Moon, Earth and other natural elements, which are believed to influence their daily life. A paste known as 'etting,' which is prepared by mixing rice powder with 'apeng' (a local rice beer), is applied on the body. Since this festival involves much expenditure, the whole community celebrates it together. It involves nearly a month of preparations.
A priest known as 'Nibu' is chosen, who presides over the various ceremonies and rituals conducted during the festival. Girls and boys, who perform dance during this festival, dress colorfully and wear a special headgear known as 'donger,' which is prepared from bamboo.
This festival is celebrated to appease the earth (si) and sun (don), which are believed to bless the community with good crop and health.
