Syllabus: Prelims, GS 1
Why was the Khiksaba festival in the news?
The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has extended greetings to the people of the state on the occasion of Khiksaba festival.
About Khiksaba festival:
- Khiksaba festival is a festival of Sherdukpen community.
- This day is an auspicious day as per Buddhist calendar.
- On this day, a special drum is beaten from a small hillock at Rupa Village, West Kameng district.
- This small hillock is called as ‘Holy Kamcha Sree’.
- The drum is sounded amidst the chanting of specially ordained priests called khikzizis.
- Khik-Saba is a typical Shertukpen festival which the Sherdukpens have been celebrating since the time of the progenitor Asu-Gyaptong (15th – 16th century).
- As per the Legends, this festival started when Asu- Gyaptong conquered Rupa (Tukpen Lomekhar) after killing the then ruler of Rupa, Kelling Sowa Gangan.
- This festival is also about worshiping mountain deities of the Shertukpens, Sungkhits and Sorokhits.Â
- It is a weeklong festival. The most important part i.e. the third day is called Tsok-Satpa.
- On this day, holy food is offered to the mountain deities at the holy abode of the deities called Loblang (deity house).Â
Source: Arunachal Times
