The Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh observe the Mopin festival to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest and ask for good health and prosperity for the community, that resides in the East Siang and West Siang districts of the north eastern state.
Although the festival is officially celebrated on April 5, the festivities begin a whole month earlier. March and April, correspond to the Galo months of Lumi and Luki.
Mopin Ane, the goddess after whom the festival is named, is believed to bring in fertility and prosperity for the tribal communities.
The festival is marked by music and dance. Young girls, in white attire and adorned with multi-coloured beaded jewellery perform the ritualistic dance. The Galo people throw rice grains on each other and that is meant to symbolise social harmony and affection.
A pivotal part of the festival is the sacrifice of the Mithun — a bovine species found only in the northeast. The blood of the sacrificed animal is believed to bring good luck to the communities, and the Galo women collect drops of blood and take it home and to villages, as benediction.
