Ali Ai Ligang: In Assam, India, the Ali Ai Ligang (in Assamese: আলি আঈ লৃৃৃগাং ) Festival, also known as Ali-Aye-Ligang, is held. The majority of tribal festivals in Assam are springtime festivals related to cultivation or harvest.
Every year, the Mishing tribe celebrates the Ali Ai Ligang Festival, which marks the start of the tribe’s New Year. ‘Ali’ means root, ‘Ai’ means fruit, and ‘Ligang’ means sowing.
Magh Bihu – 15th and 16th January 2023 – is one of the major festivals on the Assamese holiday list 2023. Bohag Bihu – April 14th, 15th, and 16th, 2023.
Ali Ai Ligang Significance:
Every year, the festival begins on the first Wednesday of the Assamese Calendar’s ‘Fagun’ month.
The Ali ai Ligang Festival is the Misings’ most colorful festival. “Ali” refers to the root and seed, “ai” to the fruit, and “Ligang” to the act of sowing. This is why the planting of seeds begins on this day.
The festival runs for five days. Every year, the festival begins on the first Wednesday of the month of ‘Gimur Polo.’
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The Misings prepare Poro Aapong (rice beer), dried fish, pork, and ‘Purang Apin’ (packed boiled rice) exclusively for the festival.
The festival’s final day (Lilen) is marked by a lavish community banquet.
Music: Instruments such as cymbal, gungang (gagana), sifung (flutes), gong, and drums are used to compose music for all types of songs and dance beats.
The literary meaning of ALI AYE LIGANG is “first sowing of roots and fruits,” with the letter ‘ALI” standing for seeds. ‘AYE’ stands for fruits, while ‘LIGANG’ stands for sowing. Agriculturists have been a part of the Mising people’s lives since time immemorial. Roots and fruits were their main source of nutrition in the hills. Because of the influence of Aryan culture in the plains, their lifestyles have gradually changed, and rice cultivation has become a part of their agricultural production. Whether jhuming or ploughing was employed. Their main product was ‘AHU’ paddy, and the arrival of the ‘AHU’ and ‘BAU’ seasons is celebrated with the “ALI AYE LIGANG” festival.
