Hidden in the breathtaking folds of the Ziro Valley, amidst lush rice fields and pine-covered hills, the Apatani tribe celebrates one of Northeast Bharat’s most unique and meaningful agricultural festivals known as “Dree.”
Held every year on July 5, the Dree Festival is one of the most significant and spiritually meaningful events for the Apatanis, an agrarian community known for their “sophisticated and ecologically sound paddy-cum-fish cultivation”. Their agricultural methods are not only sustainable but sacred, and Dree is the moment when the community collectively invokes divine blessings for the fertility of their fields, the health of their crops, and the well-being of their people.
Historically, Dree was celebrated separately in different villages at different times. But in 1967, the Apatani community decided to observe it on a unified date, fostering a deeper sense of identity and oneness among all clans and hamlets. Since then, Dree has evolved into a vibrant cultural expression, while still retaining its core spiritual ethos.
The rituals of Dree involve the propitiation of specific deities believed to govern various aspects of agricultural and natural balance. Offerings are made to “Tamu,” who protects crops from harmful pests and insects; to “Metii,” for safeguarding plants from diseases; to “Mepii,” to ensure soil fertility and crop growth; to “Danyi,” representing the life-giving force of nature; and to “Pyoku,” who shields the community from famine and hardship. These rituals are performed by traditional priest-chants known as “Nyibus” using age-old oral incantations, sacrificial rites, and offerings such as their heritage drink made out of rice “Apong” and millet cakes.
But Dree is not just prayer. It is celebration. It is the season when the Ziro Valley echoes with folk songs and dances, laughter and rhythm. People dress in their finest traditional garments, showcasing the Apatani aesthetic in handwoven patterns and silver jewelry. Elders bless, children play, youth compete in indigenous sports, and families gather under bamboo huts to share meals and memories. The air carries the fragrance of freshly brewed Apong. Every aspect of the festival is woven with joy and gratitude.
In today’s world, where environmental consciousness often gets reduced to mere slogans, the Dree Festival reminds us of a lived reality where culture, community, and ecology are deeply intertwined. It speaks of a worldview where “nature is not a resource to be exploited, but a sacred presence to be honored”. It is a celebration of survival, of spirit, and of a people who still remember how to live in rhythm with the land.
As we celebrate Dree with the Apatani community, may we also carry its message forward of humility before nature, of unity through culture, and of gratitude for the earth that feeds us all.
“Happy Dree” where “Earth is sacred and Farming is prayer” !!! May peace, prosperity, and good harvests bless every home to our Apatani Sisters & Brothers of Arunachal Pradesh.
Dree Festival of the Apatanis: Where Earth is Sacred and Farming is Prayer
