Dibrugarh, Apr 25: Thousands of people from across four villages gathered in Arunachal Pradesh’s Longding district on Friday to take part in the traditional Kham (log drum) pulling ceremony, a key cultural event of the Wancho tribe.
The ceremony, held at the Chief’s Residence in Pumao, brought together villagers from Pumao, Longkhaw, Chatting and Maihua in a display of cultural pride and community unity.
Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Gabriel D. Wangsu attended the event as the chief guest. Ranphoa Ngowa, Secretary for Tourism, Political and Border Affairs, was the guest of honour, while Thangwang Wangham, MLA of the 59th Longding-Pumao Assembly Constituency, was present as special guest.
At the heart of the ceremony is the Kham — a massive wooden log drum that holds deep cultural and historical significance in Wancho society. The ritual begins with Kham Pai Tsai, a traditional chant in which villagers seek forgiveness from nature for felling the tree used to make the drum.
The log drum, which can measure up to 12 metres in length and 3 metres in circumference, is typically carved in the form of a head, body and tail.
Traditionally, it was struck with wooden mallets known as Kham Thutkia to send out urgent messages across the village — from warning of enemy movement or wild animals to announcing festivals and deaths.
Friday’s programme also featured a welcome dance by girls from Pumao village and a cultural performance titled “Echoes of Ancestral Beginnings” by Nahphua Wangpan and his group.
The ceremony continues to serve as an important link between the Wancho community’s past and present, preserving oral traditions and collective identity.
Also Read: Milk production set to get boost in Arunachal’s Longding
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