Mamang Dai on The Great Mother Earth: "Abo Tani is said to be the first man on earth", in Arunachal Pradesh

From the archive record

Mamang Dai on Apatani Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh: "Abo Tani is said to be the first man on earth / in Arunachal Pradesh. There were two brothers and before animals, there was the birth of man. The two brothers were always quarreling over territory and possessions. Abo Tani's brother was banished to the spirit world. The younger brother hid behind leaves which were perforated so he could always see us, but we could not see the spirit world. This is the Donyi Polo group. Tanii means man, literally translated. We have the Buddhist tribes along the frontiers and international borders. We have the Khelwa da in Lohit. We have the Mahayana school in the Tawang - Bomdila district. We have Vaishnavites in the Notke people of Tirap. Mamang Dai talks about Donyi-Polo Apatani religion in Arunachal Pr