The Apatanis observes series of agricultural rites sacrificing animals, fowls and eggs following one after another in every stage of paddy and millet plants in the year for economic growth and for yielding bumper harvest. The Dree is also one of the rites and now a days it becomes most popular rites as it is celebrated as a community festival. The people of Apatani deeply believe that the famine and epidemics may visit on earth, if they do not perform these rites timely to appease the gods and goddesses of agriculture and crops timely. Therefore, the priest performs these rites in difference stages of the crops on which they sacrifice numbers of animals and fowls to appease the benevolent Gods & Goddesses like Su-Myoro, Chandii-Metii, Chandii-Tamu, Dree (Ei ), Doji,, Yapung, Danyi, Lyaping and Chantung.
The word Dree is derived from the Apatani word Diirii which means purchasing or borrowing of food items when in scarcity or to add to the existing stock in anticipation of the shortage of food items. In other word, Dree is named after Diiri Piillo, a month in the lunar calendar of Apatani which falls during the month of June-July and the transaction of purchasing and borrowing food items in the society reaches its zenith during this period. The sacred hymn of the Apatani says that the Diirii or Diiri was originally derived from Diirii Paro, Yarii Aki, which reflect the names of fowl and dog that lived on the harmful pests and insects when all food items of Abotani was exhausted by Pyodu Tamang, the father- in- law of Abotani. The hunger of these fowl and dog reflect the hunger of human being for food grains. According to sacred oral literature of Apatani , the Dree is deeply connected with these animal and fowls, crops and vegetable especially the sacred crops like Paddy, Millet, Maize, Cucumber, Ginger etc. which were originated by Goddesses Hintii & Hirii. The Apatani priest says, “ Pyamo-Millo hii Hirii Anii ka lochung tatang. ( The Paddy is made from cartilage of Goddess Hirii and Millet, Maize, Cucumber, Ginger etc. are made from different parts of Goddesses Hintii. Theses food grains are not restricted during the taboo period of any religion rites or festival. So first it is important to know how Abotani discovered the Paddy.
The Mythology of Dree:
The oral literature of Apatani reveals that in the IIpyo Supung one day Abotani was wondering in the jungle with his tamed dog. While reaching in the deep jungle the dog started barking at a tree called “Hirii Tangu Sanii”. Abotani looked at the tree and noticed a particular variety of Paddy plant along with some Rats, Squirrels, Bees and Larvae of dragon fly (gonchi ) were hanging on that tree. But he did not pull it down from the tree as it was not ripened and went away. In the winter season Diihin Hiikhiin Miiri ( snows) started falling down. That paddy crops which was hanging on the tree became ripen and fell into a stream called “Harchi Hassang ka hado Siigang. But nobody knew where about that paddy crops were. The Abotani went out to search the paddy. At last he found the paddy crops under the possession of Diisi-Aki, Diiro-Arro , Nyalyang Takhii and Gora Tako ( all were fishermen). They got the paddy from the river with the help of fishing trap. Abotani after making a long and repeated request obtained a little quantity of paddy crops from them and on the advice of Aba Liibo and Anii Donii he started rice terrace cultivation at a very fertile land called Jilyu Myogang and Tolyo Siiper. Gradually he increased the quantity of his rice and he became rich and prosperous.
Unfortunately at one particular period of time the healthy paddy plant in the field turned pale and started wilting. The crops failed miserably for two consecutive years because of harmful pests and insects that resulted in to famine. When Abotani was at his wits end Aba Liibo and Anii Donii advised him to perform the Dree rites in order to ward off the harmful pests and insect which were destroying the paddy. The prominent priests Changu Mitur and Dogu Miser were believed to have been selected by Abotani to perform the ceremony of Dree rite, which in turn propitiated Diiri Paro and Yarii Aki to eat up all harmful pests and insects. Diiriii Paro and Yarii Aki however could not kill all as some pests and insects remained underground. For this reason, the priests requested Sky God ( Yapung Uhi ) for rain so that the pests that remained underground could come out. After performance of Yapung Uhi also some pests were still remained underground. Finally, the priest performed Tamu God which rescued Abotani by killing all remaining pests and insects. As a result the paddy plants become healthy and yielded bumper crops in that year. On that occasion having got relief from the hard situation Abotani felt very happy and gave his commitment before the Gods and Goddesses that he and his descendent would perform the Dree rituals every year so that they may not face the same fate in near future. Hence the Dree is celebrated by people of Apatani every year during the month of July. Another mythology of Apatani says that Abotani married to Pyodu Biinyi, daughter of Pyodu Tamang . One day Abotani invites his father in law and his family members at his house in spite of strong objection raised by his wife , Pyodu Biinyi .Accordingly they came to his house and stayed there for some days . During their short stay in the house of Abotani they gobble up all the food items even the husk stored under the byarang ( rice husking porch in the house) . At last Abotani asked his father in – law that from which source they would manage food to feed themselves. Then Pyodu Tamang immediately picked up an arrow ( Murto) and stroke at a particular tree called Tabe or Tiibe and told him to make food out of it to feed themselves . In that year the people had faced an acute shortage of food items and it brought a serious famine and epidemics in the society . The dogs and fowls became wild due to hunger as they were not given food for many days. The dogs started wondering in the street just like mad and biting the people on their ( Liige ) hamstring and the hens started biting on their ( Lage ) on their hands . When the situation becomes unmanageable some intellectual people comprising priest, Bulyang , Gora, Gittu , Giira , Nii, Pabo sat together at IIpyo Pandu Lapang and decided to perform the Dree rite . Abotani on the advice of Aba Liibo and Anii Doni selected Changu Mitu and Dogu Miser as priests to perform the Dree rite , which in turn propitiated Diirii Paro and Yarii Aki to eat up all harmful pests and insects . Diirii Paro and Yarii Aki however could not kill all as some pests and insects remained underground. For this reason, the priests requested Sky God ( Yapung Uhi ) for rain so that the pests that remained underground could come out . After performance of Yapung Uhi also some pests were still remained underground. Finally, the priest performed Tamu God which rescued Abotani by killing all remaining pests and insects. As result the paddy plants became healthy and yielded bumper crops after two years. On that occasion Abotani gave his commitment to the gods and goddesses that he and his descendent would perform the Dree rituals every year so that they may not face the same fate in near future. Hence the Dree is celebrated by people of Apatani every year during the month of July.
According to third mythology history Abotani married to DiilyangDiibu , the sister of Diilyang Tamang . She brought a lot of wealth along with some seeds of paddy and millet. After marriage they were enjoying peaceful, happy and prosperous family life. In the mean time a devil ,Tini Rungya come in the life of Abotani and she instigate against Diilyang Diibu and ultimately resulted Diilyang Diibu divorce from Abotani. She left the house of Abotani taking all her wealth and proceeded down towards Aha Diilyang Happa a land of fertile and plain region and settle their permananetly . Immediately after Diilyang Diibu leaves his house Abotani married to Tini Rungya and brought to his house . In the beginning she pretend and demonstrated herself as an excellent and honest housewife. She always talked about the cultivation of fields, proper management of domestic works and development of family. She demanded Abotani 10 bundles of Palii ( a curve agricultural tools made up of bamboo ) and 5 bundles of Kele ( a bamboo chisel used for removing weeds ) to enable her to working in the fields with these tools properly . Accordingly Abotani made him 10 bundles of Palii and 5 bundles of Kele for Tini Rungya . But practically she did not put these tools into agricultural work. Actually she did not take any interest in the cultivation. Every day early in the morning she went away from the house taking these tools to jungle. But instead of going to the field she directly went to a place called Supung Lanta ( a huge and strange rocks standing in the jangle ) and passed her time playing on the rock with these tools like a child . Thereby she made all the tools blunt and threw them away into the deep jangles. The condition of agriculture of Abotani deteriorated day by day. At last the agricultural land became barren as no one was there in the family to take up the cultivation works. They gradually became poor and helpless. They were having no food to eat and event all seeds of food grains had disappeared from the house of Abotani . At last Tini Rungya also divorced Abotani after ruining his life completely.
After some year on one day Abotani along with his dog visited at Ashang Dilyang hapa,the place where Diilyang Diibu was staying after separation from Abotani and found that Diilyang Diibu was drying paddy under the sun. Having no courage to face her ex-wife Abotani sent his dog to steal some quantity of paddy from Diilyang Diibu. The dog obeyed the order of his master and rushed towards the place of drying paddy and rolled its hairy body on the paddy. Diilyang Diibu caught the dog and mopped up its body and dragged a way from her place. When the dog returned to him, Abotani noticed a little amount of paddy was gathered in the cavity of its ears and it was overlooked by Diilyang Diibu. Abotani was very happy to locate it and took out it gently and cautiously. After receiving it he decided to make it a large quantity to feed himself and his family members. So, at first it was sown in the Ugu Pachang (corners of the hearth). It grew and yielded a little larger quantity in one year. Next it was sown at Si Sita ( Urinal) of house from which he got more quantity of paddy in comparison to previous year. Thereafter, it was sown in a nursery nearby his house from which he got some baskets of paddy. Then Abotani started a terrace cultivation at some distant in an area of fertile land from which he got sufficient quantity of paddy which was enough to feed themselves. With this he gradually became rich and prosperous. Unfortunately in a particular period of time the healthy paddy plant in the field turned pale and started wilting. The crops failed miserably for two consecutive years because of harmful pests and insects that resulted into famine. When Abotani was at its wits end Aba Liibo and Anii Donii advised him to perform the Dree rite in order to ward off the harmful pests and insects which were destroying the paddy. The prominent priests Changu Mitu and Dogu Miser were believed to have been chosen by Abotani to perform the ceremony of this rite, which in turn propitiated Diirii Paro and Yarii Aki to eat up all harmful pets and insects. Diirii Aki and Yarii Paro however could not kill all as some pests and insects are still remained underground. For this reason, the priest requested Sky God ( Yapung Uhi ) for rain so that the pests that remained underground could come out. After performance of Yapung Uhi also some pets were still remained underground. Finally the priest performed Tamu God which rescued Abotani by killing all remaining pests and insects. As a result the paddy plants became healthy and yielded bumper crops in that year. On that occasion Abotani gave his commitment before the Gods and Goddesses that he and his descendent would perform the Dree rituals every year so that they may not face the same fate in near future. Hence the Dree is celebrated by people of Apatani every year during the month of July.
The Mode of celebration of the Dree Festival:
The Dree initially was a simple ritual performed to propitiate the Gods and Goddesses, who helped Abotani to get bumper crops by controlling harmful pests and insects. Traditionally, Dree is inaugurated by the priest taking a ritual procession in which all Goras, some village elders and children takes part. The procession starts from the Lapang leading to Dree Pogyang or Dree alter chanting hymns to propitiate God and Goddesses of agriculture and crops to protect agriculture crops in particular and natural vegetation in general. The rituals like Tamu, Metii, Meder and Danyi are performed at the alter. In the olden days the present Dree festival was called Ei in Hong Village and Diiri in other villages. In Hong village the Dree rite or Dree Barniin is performed by reciting incantation for whole day and in the evening priest along with his assistant go around the Lapang of various clans. Once this process is over, religious structure and sacrificial animals or fowls are taken to sacred place , which is generally located in the outskirt of village and near river bed. After these rituals the people observes taboos for a period of 5 days during which agricultural activities are forbidden.
In the olden days, the taboo period was used for important discussion on social issues and displaying of traditional games and sports competition like wrestling, high jump , long jump. Cock fight e.t.c. for young boys and youths, cultural completion like Dree Biisi amongs the young girls and displaying of Daminda Dance performed by women and young girls. They also discuss and practice Biisi-Ayu and Miji Migung. During this period women distributes wine to their respective elderly relatives, especially uncles and cousins as a token of love and respect and to strengthen their relationship. Now days due with the change of time such practice is being followed in family who really respects their own traditional culture and indigenous faith.
Rejuvenation of Dree Celebration:
Earlier there was no fixed date and common platform for celebration of the Dree Festival. The people celebrated it as per their convenience at their respective villages. Since 1967 it is being celebrated jointly at a common ground Nechanglya on fixed date i.e. on 4th,5th and 6th July every year. The idea for celebration of the Dree festival jointly at a common ground and on fixed dates was created and actively initiated by a group of senior students’ leaders of the society, led by Lod Kojee ( now retired a APPCS officer) and it was unanimously supported by public leaders and the Administration. Thereafter the 5th July is officially declared as the “Dree Day”.
On the 4th July in the evening the Dree priest traditionally inaugurates the Dree festival in their respected villages. Next day on the 5th July, Dree is officially solemnized and celebrated at common ground with traditional gaiety after it is inaugurated by a Chief Guest unfurling the Dree flag followed by Dree Anthem sung by group of artistes. As a part of festival the priest performs Dree rite ceremony appeasing all the benevolent Gods and Goddesses of agriculture and crops. One mithun, some animals, fowls and eggs are sacrificed for ritual and community feast. The participants are served with Dree Taku ( cucumber) and Dree O ( rice or millet beer), community feast as a tradition. Since 2007 the food festival is also organized at Dree ground for one week w.e.f. from 28/6/09 to 05/7/09. Different kinds of traditional food items with different testes are made available and sold in the food stall. To add colour to the celebration the Pri-Dances, Daminda and other folk dances are displayed. The modern dance/song, literary competition, games and sports competitions are other high light of the days. Along with Chief guest some other important dignitaries are also invited to grace the occasion. In this way the celebration of the Dree has been modernized and now Dree is celebrated in different parts of the state and in many other important cities and town outside the state.