With the ceremonious reception of the priests at the gentle dawn followed by flag hoisting at numerous celebration centres across the Nyishi inhabited eight districts of Arunachal Pradesh, i.e., 1. East Kameng 2. Parts of West Kameng 3. Papum pare 4. Capital Complex 5. Lower Subansiri 6. Kurung Kumey 7. Kra Daadi and 8. Parts of West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sonitpur and North Lakhimpur districts of Assam, the main celebration of the Nyokum Yullo’2015 ignited this morning.

In the important centres of the capital complex, the NYUB (priests) Shri Biri Tara at Nyokum Lapang, Shri Kipa Kaha as main Yullo priest & shri Tadar Takiang as secondary or Gallang Nyibu at Nyirubjolli, Shri Gollo Epo at Doimukh, Shri Tadar Tasuk at Langte-lote Nyokum, Pachin, Shri Kipa Chaking & Yura Aki at Banderdewa Nyokum Lapang and Shri Dongda Tana at Jollang celebration centres with their BU (Assistant priests) embarked into the celebration centres to propitiate NYOKUM ANNE to bless the mankind with bumper agricultural produce, productivity in human resources and animal husbandry, ward off all maladies of life like disease, death, famine and calamities. To mark the start of the main celebration - 24^th to 28^th of February, 26^th February being the date of ritual sacrifice, the Nyokum flags have been ceremoniously hoisted in all the Nyokum centres by the office bearers of the Central Nyokum Committee Celebration (CNC) - the oldest Nyishi community based organization in continuity; established in 1970 (or) by the respective the chairman (or) senior member of the celebration centres.

By established tradition, the Chairman, CNC  hoist the Nyokum flag at Nyokum Lapang, Itanagar at about 8.00-9.00 am and thereafter, Nyikum Nyia ground, Nyirubjolli at about 9.00-10.00 am. However, in view of gripping traffic woes emerging in the state capital, alternative arrangement to this tradition for both the important celebration centres of the capital complex has been made and thus, the Chairman, CNC, Shri Bengia Tolum hoisted the Nyokum flag at CNC & NES, HQ at Nyikum Nyia Ground, Nyirubjolli at 10.00 am and Vice Chairperson, CNC, Smti Tadar Yadir hoisted the Nyokum flag at Nyokum Lapang, Itanagar at 9.00 am.

The Chairman, CNC, Shri Bengia Tolum hoisted the Nyokum flag at Nyikum Nyia ground, Nyirubjolli - the Headquarters of Nyishi Elite Society (NES) and Central Nyokum Committee (CNC) at 10.00 am while Smti. Tadar Yadir, Vice Chairperson, CNC hoisted the flag at Nyokum Lapang, Itanagar. Due to preoccupation of the General Secretary, he deputed the Secretary (Art & Culture) CNC, Shri Bengia Tabb to hoist the Nyokum flag at Langte-lote Nyokum-2014 at Pachin colony, Naharlagun consecrated by the aborigines of Langte-lote village under Nyapin administrative circle in Kurung Kumey district, Arunachal Pradesh on the request of the delegation team of organizing committee led by its Chief Patron, Shri Kipa Babu, Chief Adviser Er. Tadar Mangku, Chairman, Shri Tadar Lilong, Organizing Secretary, Shri Tadar Toni. The committee informed that Shri Joram Beda, IAS, Secretary, Tourism & DoTCL and Er. Taba Teni, Superintending Engineer, PHED has consented to grace the main function on 26^th February as the Chief Guest & Guest of Honour respectively. At Jollang, the local committees headed by Chairman Shri Tarh Miri, Vice Chairman Shri Taba Nyiania, Organizing Secretary Shri Tarh Tagi, Assistant Secretary, Shri Kholie Tahi with chief patron Shri Tarh Tarak informed that senior IPS officer Shri Tussar Taba and Er. Joram Lali consented to grace the main programme on 26^th February 2015.

Nyirubjolli is the only highest shrine of the entire Nyishi community in the form of Nyikum Nyia hall & Nyikum Nyia ground located and called upon the local residents to be a good watch and warden of this significant place of social importance, Shri Tolum appealed. The CNC has already initiated a holistic approach in broader consultation with the social leaders of imminence on the regulatory mechanism of Nyikum Nyia hall/ground, Nyirubjolli and Nyokum Lapang, Itanagar, he informed. He further called upon one and all to enthusiastically participate the Nyokum Yullo’2015 zealously while praying the Almighty NYOKUM ANNE for fathomless benevolence and bestow all round peace, progress and prosperity. Outlining the correlation of NYOKUM –the community festival & the NYISHI - the community whose very existence and sustenance is inter-dependent on one another to which we should not be miscarried by misinformation, he cautioned. He further suggested that the mega events like the Golden Jubilee Celebrations due in 2017 at Joram and 2018 at Yazali should be conducted under the direct supervision of the Central Nyokum Committee.

Dwelling on the significance of Nyokum flag, and logo, he explained that the while colour of the Nyokum flag symbolizes purity of thought that triggers purity in deed & purity in action, cheerful and liveliness. The laces of PADDY in the Nyokum logo symbolizes fertility of man and animals, productivity and prosperity, the MEYAP (eagle tail/wing) symbolizes spirituality by which the priests attains spiritual power for performing the rituals, the circle symbolizes unfathomable, boundless and limitless universe and the background rays of sun in the logo connotes the life, light, power and strength in eternity, Shri Tolum added.

Further, he appealed the essential service departments like PHED, Power, PWD etc, to render community service in their respective fields and the local administration & police to be vigilant on the anti-social elements during the entire course of festivity.

As per telephonic inputs from Charduar in Sonitpur district of Assam - the only Nyokum Lapang located outside Arunachal Pradesh, the local committee Chairman, Shri Perung Chiri unfurled the Nyokum flag after the reception of the priest (Nyub) Shri Sotek Tachang and Shri Pate Tana amidst huge gathering led by the Vice Chairman, Shri Maheswari Narzary and Organizing Secretary, Shri Hiren Wahge.

It is worth mentioning that the administrative Headquarter of the Nyishis has been Charduar, popularly known as Balipara, from which the entire Nyishi territory of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh was administered. Charduar (or) the fourth pass/gate of Hills Man (Nyishi) attack in the name of Balipara is synonymous with the local Nyishi terminology-LAL PUTA (Red Letter) i.e., Court Summon in the entire Nyishi belt during the British period. The Ahom King followed by powerful British Empire had to buy peace in the form of annual payment of POSSA to the hills man (Nyishi).

The input added that Dr. Dhrubajyoti Hazarika, ACS, Circle Officer Charduar, Shri Nityananda Gogoi, former Principal, Biswanath College and Shri Tipuram Boro, President, Sonitpur district unit, ABSU are gracing the 42^nd  Nyokum Yullo-2015, Charduar as Chief Guest, Special Guest and Guest of Honour respectively amidst host of invited dignitaries Recently, the President, NES, graced the Open Session of the 47th Annual Conference of ABSU on Sunday, 8th February 2015 at 12.00 Noon at Gwjwn Fwthar, Charduar (Balipara) Sonitpur district.

Later, after the flag hoisting ceremony, the NES - CNC executives combine led by the Vice Chairperson, CNC, Smti. Tadar Yadir and CNC Secretary General & General Secretary, NES, Shri Tarh Tabin had hectic interactions and joint inspection of Nyokum preparations with the local organizing committee at Banderdewa, Nyirubjolli, Doimukh and culminated at Nyokum Lapang in the evening. At Banderdewa, the team had an interaction with the local Nyokum Committee headed by Shri Pama Bagang, Patron,  Shri Kipa Chanang, Chairman, Shri Vice Chairman, Shri Tadar Tayum, Organizing Secretary Shri Kipa Taniang, Assistant Secretary and Shri Tai Deepak and at Doimukh headed by Shri Nabam Rebia, Chief Patron, Shri Rekhi Tana Tara, Patron, Shri Tana Bado, former ZPM as Chairman, Shri Debia Muj, Vice Chairman and Shri Yab Basu, Organizing Secretary, wherein, the Hon’ble Minister, Health & Family Welfare, Shri Rajesh Tacho is all set to grace as the Chief Guest.

The team NES-CNC also joined the colorful and massive pre-Nyokum celebrations at Rajiv Gandhi University and interacted with the local committees headed by the Chief patron, Dr. Nabam Nakha Hina, Chairman Shri Tanying Nangye and Organizing Secretary and Organizing Secretary, Shri Likha Attu.

The Central Nyokum Committee extended hearty congratulations to the Nyokum Lapang organizing committee chief patron/patrons-Shri Techi Kaso, HPS & local HMLA, madam Higio Aruni, Chief Councillor, Itanagar Municipal Council (IMC) other patrons, Shri Tatar Kipa, Chairman, Vice Chairman Shri Nigler Veo, Organizing Secretary, Madam Mechi Taku  & Assistant Secretary Shri Biri Bhai wherein, the Hon’ble Chief Minister, Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Nabam Tuki and HMLA, 38-Pasighat (East) Shri Kaling Moyong are scheduled to attend as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively, the  Organizing Committee of Nyikum Nyia Ground headed by the Chief Patron, Shri Techi Kaso, Patron, Shri Techi Tolu, ZPM, Borum-I, Chief Adviser Shri Techi Lala, Chairman, Shri Tarh Nachung and Organizing Secretary Shri Bengia Vijay informed that Shri Gojen Gadi, Hon’ble Minmister, PWD and Chairman, Hydropower, Shri Tani Loffa are gracing as the Chief Guest & Guest of Honour respectively, the Organizing Committee of  Langte-lote Nyokum at Pachin village Shri Kipa Babu, Chief Patron & Deputy Chief Councillor, Itanagar Municipal Council, Er. Tadar Mangku, Chief Adviser, Shri Tadar Lilong, Chairman & Shri Tadar Toni, Organizing Secretary and their respective celebration committee members.

The CNC also extends best wishes, congratulations and greetings to all the Organizing Committees of Nyokum Yullo-2015 celebration centres of the capital complex and Nyishi inhabited districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sonitpur & North Lakhimpur districts of Assam in particular and those pre and post Nyokum centres across the length and breath of the country in general and all the participants who are the part of the celebration of the grandest festival of the Nyishi community.

As a part of the celebration, the inauguration of food stalls; games & sports competitions and cultural competitions have already been started from 15^th February onwards in various Nyokum celebration centres across the state.

The Central Nyokum Committee (CNC) wishes everyone a merry & joyous Nyokum Yullo-2015 and prays the Almighty ‘NYOKUM ANNE’ to bestow Her choicest blessings to mankind for all round peace, progress and prosperity!