By: TARH RAMYA, ASIN CHARU
This paper examines the funerary practices of the Tagins of Arunachal Pradesh by analyzing the various rituals performed when someone dies. It begins with Simi Danam, a ritual conducted before death, especially for elders, which both honors the individual and prepares them for what is to come. The study then traces the process following a natural death, from the moment of death through burial and beyond. This includes how the body is kept inside the house, positioned in a specific posture, carried to the grave, and buried with leaves, food, and other items. The practices do not end with burial. Rituals such as purification, maintaining a fire at the grave, checking footprints, and observing restrictions indicate that death continues to influence the living for some time. The paper also addresses deaths not considered natural. These cases involve stricter rules, different materials for altar structures, and distinct burial systems in specific situations, such as miscarriage, sometimes requiring more intense rituals. For example, in cases of murder, practices are performed to protect the deceased and to respond to the act itself, including rituals intended to exact revenge.
