Oriah is the prime festival of Wancho Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. It is celebrated in commemoration of God’s forgiveness to mankind.
Wancho a martial tribe known for their breavery and courageous act also known tody as head hunters. They rule the land with strength and courage. Once upon a time a strange man visited the land of Wancho with two desciples. The people encountered these strangers and were suspicious, they suspected them to be enemies and killed them. Thereafter, things began to change adversely for the tribe, the agriculture yield lowered leading to famine, they lost war against their enemies, and adversity reigned over Wancho. The tribe was in a helpless state.
Seeking remedy for their situation they approach the village priest (Gampa) with their problems. The priest after prolonged meditaion interpretated that they have commited a grevious crime by murdering an innocent person, who was God Himself, flawless and harmless. Therefore he advised the people to perform a proper funeral ritual for the innocents killed in blunder as a means of repentence.
The people agreed and repented of their sins and did as the Gampa told. They erected an image of the God they killed. They sang praises to him and gave a fitting funeral ritual according to their tradition.
After the grand funeral thing began to change for better. They reaped bountiful hearvest, won battles in war, population increased. Then the People realised that the God whom they called Jang Gan have forgiven them of fault. Hereafter, they erected they image of the God every year and give it a devine and proper funeral, while seeking His blessings for a bountiful harvest and welfare of the people. This practice is observed to this very day by the Wancho Tribe as a reconciliation between God and Man. And the practice is called Jang Gan Oriah.
