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Changing short description from "Largest Ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India" to "Ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh, India" |
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{{more citations needed|date=February 2020}}
{{cleanup-lang|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Nyishi
| image = Two girls of Nyishi tribe in their traditional attire, Seijosa village, Pakke kesang district, Arunachal Pradesh- RIWATCH.jpg
| image_caption =
| total = 249,824
| total_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/PCA/ST.html|title=A-11 Individual Scheduled Tribe Primary Census Abstract Data and its Appendix|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2017-11-03}}</ref>
| total_year = 2011 census
| popplace = {{flag|India}} ([[Arunachal Pradesh]])
| languages = [[
| religions = [[Donyi-Polo
| related = [[Mising people]], [[Tagin people]], [[Galo people]], [[Tibetan people]]
| footnotes =
}}
[[Polygyny]] is prevalent among the Nyishi. It signifies one's social status and economical stability and also proves handy during hard times like clan wars or social huntings and various other social activities. This practice, however is diminishing especially with the modernization and also with the spread of Christianity. They trace their descent [[Patrilineality|patrilineally]] and are divided into several clans.<ref>{{cite book
== Origin ==
As per the Nyshi mythology, there were many versions of Abo Tanyi in the form of spirits and other beings. Nyiha (Niya) is one of the sons of Abo Tanyi, which is the first perfect human being, and the Nyishi are his descendants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nyishi Tribe - Arunachal Pradesh |url=https://www.thenyishitribe.com/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=The Nyishi Tribe |language=en}}</ref>
The human being genealogy/ancestry is recalled as:
Tanyi - Nyiha - Hari & Haring.
Hari - Riku - Kunghi - Hingbing - Bingdung and Bingley.
Haring - Ringdo - Dopum, Dodum and, Dolu.
To learn more about the Genealogy of the Nyishi Tribe,
== Etymology ==
In [[Nyishi language|Nyishi]], ''Nyi'' refers to "a human" and the word ''shi'' denotes "
==
They are spread across eight districts of [[Arunachal Pradesh]]: [[Kra Daadi district|Kra Daadi]], [[Kurung Kumey district|Kurung Kumey]], [[East Kameng district|East Kameng]], [[West Kameng district|West Kameng]], [[Papum Pare district|Papum Pare]], [[Keyi Panyor district|Keyi Panyor]], parts of [[Lower Subansiri district|Lower Subansiri]], [[Kamle district|
== Economy ==
The Nyishi are agriculturalists who practice [[Slash-and-burn|''jhum'']], known as ''rët rung-o'' in [[Nishi language|Nyishi]], which is a form of shifting cultivation. The principal crops raised include paddy (rice), ''toppu'' ([[maize]]), ''mekung'' ([[cucumber]]), ''tak-yi'' ([[ginger]]), ''aeng'' ([[Yam (vegetable)|yam]]s) and ''temi'' ([[millet]]), thumpe ''(
== Attire ==
Traditionally, Nyishi [[braid|plaited]] their hair and tie it neatly at the forehead with locally-made thread. A brass skewer passes horizontally through the tied hair. Cane rings were worn around the waist, arms and legs. Men wore a cane helmet surmounted with the beak of the [[Great hornbill|great Indian hornbill]]. The usage of actual hornbill beaks is discouraged these days due to tough wildlife protection laws since the great Indian hornbill is a protected species and generally due to growing awareness among the people as well. Nowadays It is being supplemented by beaks made of cane or other materials and the entire headgear/cane helmet itself is readily available in the market for purchase. Additional decorations varied depending upon the status of the person and were symbols of manly valor.
The clothing of the men consists of two types of sleeveless shirts (letum) and with black and white stripe (pomo) made from thick cotton cloth, striped gaily with blue and red together with a mantle of cotton or wool fastened around the throat and shoulders. Strings made of beads in varying sizes and colours are also worn, mainly for decoration purposes and to show the wearer's status. They also carry a machete or [[Dao (Naga sword)|dao]] (''uryu'') in Nyishi) ([[short sword]]) and a knife (''{{Not a typo|chighi}}'') in a [[bamboo]] sheath that are mostly covered with animal furs. Their
The Nyishi women generally wear a sleeveless mantle of striped or plain cloth, its upper part tucked tightly over the breast and enveloping the body from the armpits to the centre of the calves addition with different colour tops worn underneath among which red ({{Not a typo|jwle}} / {{Not a typo|jwlang}}) is generally used . A ribbon is tied at the waist. A [[girdle]] consisting of metal disks, beads, and cane [[garter (stockings)|garter]]s is worn at the waist. Their hair is parted in the middle, plaited and tied into a [[Chignon (hairstyle)|chignon]] just above the nape. Their ornaments include multicolored bead necklaces, brass chains, metal bells, huge brass or silver earrings and heavy bracelets of various metals.
== Religion ==
[[File:Nyokum festival Nyishi.JPG|thumb|A festival of the Nyishi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, India.]]''Nyokum, Boori-Boot, and Longte''
As per the Donyi Polo, the Nyishi believes that everything in nature has owner (''spirit or uyu,wiyu''). The priest (''Nyubh'') acts as the translator/mediator/negotiator between the human and the spirit and performs rituals and animals sacrifices to please the spirits. The spirits may be benevolent or malevolent.
Christian missionaries began operating in Arunachal Pradesh in the 1950s; however, many of their proselytising activities were limited by the government until the 1970s.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=The Institutionalization of Tribal Religion |title=Recasting the Donyi-Polo Movement in Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Asian Ethnology |volume=72 |issue=2 |page=260 |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4303 |publisher=Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture}}</ref> According to a 2011 survey, many of the Nyishi people have become Christian (31%), followed by Hinduism (29%), with many of the remaining still following the ancient indigenous [[Donyi-Polo]]ism.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Katiyar |first1=Prerna |title=How churches in Arunachal Pradesh are facing resistance over conversion of tribals |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/how-churches-in-arunachal-pradesh-are-facing-resistance-over-conversion-of-tribals/articleshow/61703687.cms |website=The Economic Times |publisher=India Times |access-date=19 September 2020 |date=19 November 2017}}</ref>▼
▲Christian missionaries began operating in Arunachal Pradesh in the 1950s; however, many of their proselytising activities were limited by the government until the 1970s.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=The Institutionalization of Tribal Religion |title=Recasting the Donyi-Polo Movement in Arunachal Pradesh |journal=Asian Ethnology |volume=72 |issue=2 |page=260 |url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/4303 |publisher=Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture}}</ref> According to a 2011 survey, many of the Nyishi people have become Christian (31%), followed by Hinduism (29%), with many of the remaining still following the ancient indigenous [[Donyi-Polo]]
== The hornbill issue ==▼
According to Nyishi history, the concept of institutionalized religion was absent, as there were no alternative forms of worship or deities beyond the spirits of nature that could be classified as a distinct religion. After coming in contact with British India, the idea of religion was known. The spread of Christianity and Hinduism led to the need for preservation of indigenous ways of worshipping nature and thus the notion of Donyi Polo was born.
The establishment of Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang on 31st December 1986 is considered as an important day and thus 31st December is celebrated as Donyi-Polo Day.<ref name="auto"/>
The Nyishis, who traditionally wear cane helmets surmounted by the crest of a [[Great Indian hornbill|hornbill]] beak (known as ''pudum'' or ''padam''), have considerably affected the population of this bird.
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==References==
{{reflist}}External links{{commons category|Nyishi people}}▼
▲{{commons category|Nyishi people}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070112085845/http://www.nezccindia.org/arunachalpradesh/IntroductionArunachal.asp?State=Arunachal Glimpses Of Arunachal Pradesh]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050320114648/http://www.culturalportraits.com/CPIndia/Religion/Nyubu%20Priests.htm Nyishi Nyub Priests]
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