MOPIN FESTIVAL IN KADU VILLAGE: ORIGIN, ASSOCIATED MYTHS AND PRACTICE.

Abstract

The Mopin Festival is one of the most important traditional celebrations of the Galo tribe. This study focuses on Kadu village in Koyu Administrative Circle, Lower Siang District of Arunachal Pradesh, to understand the origin of the festival and its cultural meaning. The people believe that Mopin Ane (the goddess of prosperity and well-being) is the central figure of the celebration. Myths explain how she received divine powers, gave seeds of paddy and millet to humans, and promised blessings of health, wealth, and protection upon being worshipped through rituals. Alongside this, the stories of Abo-Tani, regarded as the first human ancestor of the Tani group, describe how he obtained knowledge of cultivation, faced trials in the heavenly land, and later honoured Mopin Ane through offerings and prayers. These narratives, along with oral fables, not only describe the beginnings of agriculture but also teach lessons about unity, hard work and the dangers of greed. The preparation of the festival includes divination by the village priest, selection of sacrificial animals, making rice cakes and rice wine, and collective rituals that bring everyone together. During the main celebration, people perform the Popir dance, chant hymns, and share food and drink as symbols of joy and harmony. The Mopin Festival, as practiced in Kadu village, is more than a prayer for good harvest. It is a way of preserving oral traditions, remembering ancestral stories, and strengthening social bonds. By continuing to celebrate it with devotion, the Galo people express gratitude to nature, safeguard their identity, and pass on cultural values to future generations.