Daporijo, Ligu Village, and surrounding areas

View on the road from Along to Dapo

Memorial to a deceased relative in a Tagin Village outside of Dapo

Eye on a block
Cows in the field on the way to Ligu Village

Children in Ligu Village

An altar used in a cleansing ceremony. We weren't permitted to enter the room while the ceremony took place, but we were allowed to listen from outside and see it all after the fact, with eager explanation from the villagers. After no bus showed up the next morning, we were invited by the man who owns this house, Pilum Ligu, to stay the night in the village.

Early morning, Dapo

Monkey Pelt and skull, on the way to Ligu Village

Scenery outside of town

Villager modeling a bag that he made. Such good craftsmanship, Dan bought it from him.

The Ligu Village Cultural Group performing traditional Nishi dance for us.

Ligu Village

House in Ligu

Houses in Ligu

These children followed me all over the village.

Pilum's very playful daughter.

Ziro and surroundings

As our days in India came to a close, we got a second permit for Arunachal Pradesh to see the other side. Our trip to Ziro, Daporijo, and Along brought us to villages of Apatani, Nyshi, Tagin, Miri, and Adi people, all of whom are traditionally Sun Worshippers. Due the activities of Christian missionaries, there has been a movement to formalize the traditional religion, giving it the name Donyi-Polo, which means Sun Moon. Along with our trip to Tawang, Bomdilla and Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh is by far my favorite state we visited in India.

Old town Ziro
Stone workers in Ziro

Rice Feild/Fish Farm

Mithun (Arunchali Buffalo) Skulls. These animals are commonly sacrificed during ceremonies.

Hong Village in the morning


The road through rice fields outside Hong Village
The star is a symbol for Christian families in these villages. The Sun is representative of the traditional religion, and is often placed with a moon.
Babo Pole. See this website for some great info on it. http://savetanii.blogspot.com/2007/11/babo-in-tanii-apatani-culture.html Thanks to AG for the link.


Apatani wood worker

Ceremonial Apatani Platform

When we asked our friend what these were, he responded, "This...is our god." Most houses feature one or more of these, often with sacrificed eggs skewered through the reeds.

New friends, Ziro

The hills above Ziro

Mawlynnong and surrounding areas

"The cleanest village in Asia"
Children arrive by bus to experience the village

Large stone, once used as a Khasi sacrificial altar

Root Stairs

Root Bridge

Top of the waterfall

A very friendly Khasi Family.

Root Bridge

Where we stayed.

Mawphlong

Khasi Monoliths
Drying racks
In the Khasi Sacred Forest

More Monoliths

More Monoliths

The Khasi Hills

Sunset over the Sacred Forest

Dirang/Rahung

Dirang Monastery
A stone Monpa house, Dirang
Dirang Dzong


Dirang Fort

Rahung
On the way to Rahung



Houses with Melons on them, Rahung

Artwork on the houses, Rahung