Lohit district General information

Lohit is an administrative district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh in India. The district headquarters are located at Tezu. The district occupies an area of 11,402 km² and has a population of 143,478


History

The name of district is derived from the river Lohit that flows through the district. Prior to 1914, the district was a part of Lakhimpur district. By 1914 the North East Frontier Tract was constituted with three political charges and the area covered by this district become a part of the central and Eastern Section which falls under one of the said political charges. In the year 1919, the Central and Eastern Section was renamed as the Sadiya Frontier Tract. In 1943, some area from both the Sadly Frontier Tract and the Lakhimpur Frontier Tract were curved out and Tirap Frontier Tract was formed. In 1948, under the North East Frontier Tracts (Internal Administration) Regulation, 1948, the remaining portion on the Sadiya Frontier Tract was divided into two separate administrative charges, namely the Abor Hills District and the Mishmi Hills District each in the charge of a political Officer with headquarters at Pasighat and Sadiya respectively. In 1951, the plains portion of the Mishmi Hills District was transferred to administrative jurisdiction of the Government of Assam. In 1952, the headquarters of the Mishmi Hills District was shifted fro Sadiya to Tezu. According to the North East Frontier, areas (Administration) Regulation 1954, the North-East Frontier Tract came to be known as North-East Frontier Agency and the Mishmi Hills District was renamed as the Lohit Frontier Division. In 1956, the Dibang Valley was constituted as a separate administrative unit within the division and placed under the charge of Additional Political Officer with his headquarters at Roing which was subsequently shifted to Anini. In 1965, under the North-East Frontier Agency (Administration) Regulation, 1956 the Lohit Frontier Division came to be known by its present name the Lohit District and the Political Officer and Additional Political Officer were redesignated as the Deputy Commissioner and Additional Deputy Commissioner respectively. In June, 1980 under the Arunachal Pradesh (Re-organisation of district), Act 1980 the Lohit District was bifurcated into two independent district namely Lohit District and Dibang Valley District. The District headquarters of the Lohit District is at Tezu.

The ancient history of the individual Lohit District is not concreated due to paucity of historical evidence, literary or material, yet the lower belt of the district is the base for evidence for existence of the ruins of ancient settlement, buildings, shrines and temples. The Parasuram Kund,Tamreswari temple,Sivalinga site and the city of king Bhismak situated in this region are also mentioned in the Puranic and tantric literatures.

The scenic beauties of the district are splendid, Tezu Township alone attracts visitors for its set up. There are different tribes in the district. Their traditional dances, games and sports can be enjoyed in festive occasion. Elephant raiding, angling, rafting, hitchhiking, mountaineering etc. are the entertainment scopes available in the district.


Geography

The Lohit District is part of Arunachal Pradesh and its district capital Tezu where the Holy place of Brahma Kunda also known as Parasuram Kunda is located. Tezu is at an altitude of 21 deg above MSL. The Lohit District is situated on the North Eastern extremity of Arunachal Pradesh. It lies approx. between the latitudes 27 degree 33' and 29 degree 22'N and the Longitudes 95 degree 15' E and 97 degree 24'E. It has an total area of 11402 Sq. KM.


Culture

There are different tribes in the district. Their traditional dances, games and sports can be enjoyed in festive occasion.
The indigenous population is tribal and belongs to different communities.   They are mainly the Mishmi, Khamtis and Singphos. Tibetan Refuges and the other sections of the population are living in the district. The indigenous people of the district co-operate any other communities in every aspect of livelihood. Till to-day the other communities appreciate all the indigenous people for their cordial and gentle behaviour. The Khamtis and the Singphos are Buddhist where as the Mishmis are the follower of typical faith, belief and practices. Monogamous is the general rules of marriage; polygamy is not a rear example for them. As a whole the occupation of the people is agriculture. They observe some worship, festivals from time to time.  Singing, dancing and playing are a part and parcel of their life.     

It is indeed a fact that each and every dance has got its own originality and meaning.   Group dances are common along the different tribes in the district.  The Mishmis mainly perform two types of dance called Buiya and Nuiya. The Khamtis Mask-dance is an attractive dance where two dancers wear shirts spotted design and on their heads masks of cock's heads are put on with its crown at the top and the Beal projecting over the foreheads. These two dancers dance like fighting cocks.


Festival

Tamladu and Sangken are the main festivals celebrated in the Lohit District.  Tamladu is celebrated by the Mishmis on 15th February whereas Sangken, the main festival of the Khamtis and Singphos  is celebrated on 14th of April.  The local people honour the festivals of each other.  The people of other districts also equally observe their respective festivals with full splendour.
    
The Sangken is the festival of the Khamtis, who reside in the plains of Lohit district. It is an occassion to give bath to the images of lord Buddha ceremoniously. The festival is celebrated every year in the month of April to welcome the beginning of the New Year. The celebrations lasts for three consecutive days. During the festival, delicious homemade sweets are prepared and distributed among relatives and friends. The main attraction of the festival is the prayerful pouring of clean water on the statues of lord Buddha placed at several places by each and everyone on routine basis. Playfully and in a joyous mood, clean water is also poured on each other as a mark of togetherness.  On the last day of the festival, the statues of lord Buddha are taken back to their original worship place from where it was initially brought with beat of drums and lots of fanfare. Finally, a prayer is conducted in the Buddha temple with a wish to begin the New Year, happily and prosperously.   

The Digaru Mishmis celebrate Tamladu where the God of earth and the God of water are worshipped for protection against natural calamities. The supreme God Jebmalu is also worshipped for the sound prosperity and welfare of human being, standing crops and domestic animals. In the festival the people welcome the new year by performing a dance with unbounded jubilation. The Sun God is regarded as the creator, by their priests of the village.


Tourist Place


The ancient history of the individual Lohit District is not concreated due to paucity of historical evidence, literary or material, yet the lower belt of the district is the base for evidence for existence of the ruins of ancient settlement, buildings, shrines and temples. The Parasuram Kund, Tamreswari temple, Sivalinga site and the city of king Bhismak situated in this region are also mentioned in the Puranic and tantric literatures.

The scenic beauties of the district are splendid, Tezu Township alone attracts visitors for its set up. There are different tribes in the district. Their traditional dances, games and sports can be enjoyed in festive occasion. Elephant raiding, angling, rafting, hitchhiking, mountaineering etc. are the entertainment scopes available in the district.Modernisation though penetrates into the far furlong villages in the district, the influence of it is low. One can peep into life-style of the indigenous people while visiting the places of interests.