Ponung
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
A circle dance of Adi women at the Solung harvest festival, led by a male singer who tells the stories of creation and farming in song.
TribalWhere: Arunachal Pradesh (Adi community, Siang districts)Occasion: Solung festival (September), after the sowing season
| Performed by | Young Adi women, led by a male priest-singer called the Miri |
|---|---|
| Costume | Hand-woven white and coloured wrap skirts (gale), beaded necklaces and brass ornaments |
| Music and instruments | Songs sung by the Miri, who shakes a sword-like jingling instrument called the yoksha; the dancers sing the chorus |
How it is performed
- The women hold hands or link arms and form a circle around the Miri.
- The Miri sings verses about the origin of crops and the history of the people, keeping time with the jingling yoksha.
- The dancers repeat the refrain and move round in slow, measured steps, bending and swaying together.
- The dance continues late into the night over the days of the festival.
Significance
Ponung keeps alive the oral history of the Adi people and asks for a good harvest. It is the central dance of Solung, the Adi agricultural festival.