Tani people

TANIS

Regions with significant populations
India	2,170,250
China	N/A
Languages
Tani languages
Religion
Donyi-Polo, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Other Sino-Tibetan people

The Tani people are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group of peoples, which includes the Mising, Nyishi, Adi, Apatani, Galo, and Tagin, who share common beliefs, ancestry, and Tani languages and live in the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

The Tani are one of the largest ethnic groups in Northeast India, with a population of 2.17 million.

They also reside across the border in Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The Chinese government recognises Tani peoples as members of the Lhoba people.

History

Most of the residents of Arunachal Pradesh and Upper Assam belong to the six Tani tribes (Nyishi, Adi, Galo, Apatani, Tagin and Mising) who are all said to be descended from Abotani. Some of the history of the Tani people has been recorded in the ancient libraries of Tibet as the Tani people traded swords and other metals with Tibetans in exchange for meat and wool.

Culture and Society

Festivals

Solung

Tribe: Adi

Description

Solung is a major agricultural festival celebrated in early September to mark the harvest. It involves rituals, dances, songs, and community feasts. The festival lasts for about ten days and includes various activities like animal sacrifices, distribution of rice beer, and performances of traditional dances like Ponung.

Dree

Tribe: Apatani

Description

Celebrated in early July, Dree is an agricultural festival where prayers are offered to deities to ensure a bountiful harvest and to protect crops from pests and diseases. The festival includes sacrificial offerings, traditional songs and dances, and community feasting.

Nyokum

Tribe: Nyishi

Description

Nyokum is celebrated in February and is a communal prayer for prosperity and well-being. The festival involves rituals to appease the gods and spirits, traditional dances, and communal feasts.

Mopin

Tribe: Galo

Description

Celebrated in April, Mopin is a harvest festival seeking prosperity and good health. It involves rituals to worship the goddess Mopin Ane. The festival features dances like Popir, the preparation of rice beer called Apong, and communal feasting.

Si-Donyi

Tribe: Tagin

Description

Celebrated in January, Si-Donyi is a festival to worship the earth and the sun. It includes rituals for well-being and fertility, traditional dances, and community gatherings.

Ali-Aye-Ligang

Tribe: Mising

Description

Celebrated in February, Ali-Aye-Ligang marks the beginning of the sowing season. It includes rituals to the earth goddess for a good harvest, traditional dances, songs, and feasting on rice and fish.

Language

The languages spoken by the Tani People are part of the larger Sino-Tibetan language family, which includes languages spoken in China, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

Tonal Nature

Some of the Tani language are tonal, meaning that the meaning of a word can change based on its tone.

Oral Tradition

Historically, these languages were primarily oral. However, with increased literacy and the influence of education, Roman scripts have been adopted for writing and documentation.

Linguistic Research

There has been growing interest in documenting and studying these languages to preserve their unique linguistic heritage, given the pressures of modernization and the influence of more dominant languages in the region.