Donyi-Polo
Encyclopedia
Donyi-Polo is an animist
religion, literally meaning "Sun-Moon" (where, sun is the female energy, and moon being the male). It is followed by many of the tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh
, India
like the Galos, Adi
s, Apatanis, Nishi
s, Hill Miris, Mishings. The shamans conduct the rituals and make holy sacrifices to the spirits.
Donyi-Poloism is derived from the worship of the Sun and Moon who are considered the eternal watch deities of the supreme almighties Bo and Bomang. These animists believe in spirit. Animal sacrifice is integral part of the rituals carried out by the Shamans with slew of bamboo crafts dedicated to propitiate the spirits. The offerings include crates of eggs, heaps of chicken livers, cauldrons of rice and home-brewed beer. Different tribes have their own way of following the Donyi-polo but the sole belief is in Sun and moon. They invoke the spirit and nature. The religion has been passed on from the ancestors with beliefs, words, practices and rituals.
Donyi-Polo animists believe all people of Arunachal Pradesh share a common ancestry from Abo-Tani. The religion has no written scripture, but has traditionally been passed orally from each generation to the next. Believers pray to a number of deities for blessing, but principally worship the Sun and the Moon. Donyi-Polo includes religious rituals which coincide with lunar phases and agricultural cycles.
A follower of Donyi-Polo believes in the oneness
of all living creatures, from the tiniest organisms to the mightiest animals, and that every living creature has a role to play in his or her life. They believe that spirit resides within man, and within his nearest neighbours, the trees, flowers, plants, the land that nourishes them, the birds, the mountain ranges... all of which have a connection with humans.
The main deities in Donyi-Polo are Donyi-Polo, Kine Nane, Doying Bote, Pedong Nane and Gumin Soyin. Although generally losing popularity among younger generations, as growing numbers convert to Christianity, Donyi-Poloism has undergone something of a revival subsequent to the efforts of Talom Rukbo
, the father of the modern Donyi Polo Movement in Arunachal Pradesh.
Efforts are now underway to give an organized form to the traditional beliefs and values of the Arunachal Pradesh region, and to protect the locals against coerced conversion to foreign religions.
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....
religion, literally meaning "Sun-Moon" (where, sun is the female energy, and moon being the male). It is followed by many of the tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India, located in the far northeast. It borders the states of Assam and Nagaland to the south, and shares international borders with Burma in the east, Bhutan in the west, and the People's Republic of China in the north. The majority of the territory is claimed by...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
like the Galos, Adi
Adi people
The Adi, or Bangni-Bokar Lhoba people is a major collective tribe living in the Himalayan hills of Arunachal Pradesh, and they are found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions within the districts of East Siang, Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley. The older term Abor is a deprecated...
s, Apatanis, Nishi
Nishi (Tribe)
- Nyishi People :The Nyishi people principally inhabit the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Known as the Nyishi ....
s, Hill Miris, Mishings. The shamans conduct the rituals and make holy sacrifices to the spirits.
Donyi-Poloism is derived from the worship of the Sun and Moon who are considered the eternal watch deities of the supreme almighties Bo and Bomang. These animists believe in spirit. Animal sacrifice is integral part of the rituals carried out by the Shamans with slew of bamboo crafts dedicated to propitiate the spirits. The offerings include crates of eggs, heaps of chicken livers, cauldrons of rice and home-brewed beer. Different tribes have their own way of following the Donyi-polo but the sole belief is in Sun and moon. They invoke the spirit and nature. The religion has been passed on from the ancestors with beliefs, words, practices and rituals.
Donyi-Polo animists believe all people of Arunachal Pradesh share a common ancestry from Abo-Tani. The religion has no written scripture, but has traditionally been passed orally from each generation to the next. Believers pray to a number of deities for blessing, but principally worship the Sun and the Moon. Donyi-Polo includes religious rituals which coincide with lunar phases and agricultural cycles.
A follower of Donyi-Polo believes in the oneness
Nondualism
Nondualism is a term used to denote affinity, or unity, rather than duality or separateness or multiplicity. In reference to the universe it may be used to denote the idea that things appear distinct while not being separate. The term "nondual" can refer to a belief, condition, theory, practice,...
of all living creatures, from the tiniest organisms to the mightiest animals, and that every living creature has a role to play in his or her life. They believe that spirit resides within man, and within his nearest neighbours, the trees, flowers, plants, the land that nourishes them, the birds, the mountain ranges... all of which have a connection with humans.
The main deities in Donyi-Polo are Donyi-Polo, Kine Nane, Doying Bote, Pedong Nane and Gumin Soyin. Although generally losing popularity among younger generations, as growing numbers convert to Christianity, Donyi-Poloism has undergone something of a revival subsequent to the efforts of Talom Rukbo
Talom Rukbo
Talom Rukbo was a literary and social worker in Arunachal Pradesh. He was the father of Donyi-Polo, a religious movement based in Arunachal Pradesh...
, the father of the modern Donyi Polo Movement in Arunachal Pradesh.
Efforts are now underway to give an organized form to the traditional beliefs and values of the Arunachal Pradesh region, and to protect the locals against coerced conversion to foreign religions.