Fermented Bamboo Shoots-HIKHU,HIYI and HIRIN

           Traditional tanii cuisines and delicacies would be unpalatable without use of fermented bamboo shoots. As varieties of bamboo species are found in the vicinity of Apatani plateau and neighborhood, bamboo shoots are widely use in raw or in form of fermented.Bamboo shoots are harvested seasonally (mostly during Apr-Jun), thus the best way to preserve seasonal& perishable bamboo shoots are done by fermenting processes.

         In tanii cuisines and delicacies, the fermented bamboo shoots are available in three popular forms- namely HIKHU (finely chopped and wet), HIYI (dried HIKHU) and HIRIN (wholesome). Well preserved fermented bamboo shoots can be use throughout the year until next harvesting is done. It is only possible due to natural fermentation processes, there is no rocket science involved,moreover no preservative agent is required. Following steps are involved in fermentation of bamboo shoots:

Fresh Bamboo shoots

Wet  finely chopped fermented bamboo shoot (HIKHU)

Fermented Whole Bamboo shoot (HIRIN)

Dry fermented bamboo shoot (HIYI)

DOs and DON'Ts in fermentation process:

DOs:

• Select fresh bamboo shoots only
• Wash properly to remove all dirt
• Chop using hygienic chopper
• Add green chilies before storing (optional)
• Select airtight glass/plastic jars with lids
• Store in dry place

DON'Ts:

• Don't open the lids of jar frequently during fermentation process
• Don't allow direct exposure to the heat and sunlight
• Don't add salt during fermentation, this may result in dehydration and the process would be effected
• Don't use wet spoon/hand during checking, this may spoil entire fermentation process
• Don't keep fermenting/fermented bamboo shoot along the fermenting rice beer, strong sour-acidic taste HIKHU/HIRIN/HIYI  may be affected  and spoiled later 

 NOTE: 

1. In olden days, hikhu/hirin/hiyi were stored in the containers made of bamboo tube and those were tight capped using special type of wild leaves available in the vicinity. 
2. Entire fermentation process was done organically.
3. Strong pungent smell of fermented bamboo shoot may put many people  off  :)
4. Apatani bamboo (Phylostachhys Bambusoides) are never used for making  HIKHU/HIRIN/HIYI , reason may be- its economical importance in our daily life. 
5. The  packaged fermented bamboo shoots are available in market.

Siinyan- siillo TANII miyu lu

Siinyan- siillo TANII miyu lu-

Tiipey-paniin mi palyu kobii doku

Yapin-huniin mi hulyu kobii doku

Ahhu-yaari mi giifpa biido ku

Denge-renii mi relyu biido ku

Kente-pulye mi,kente-abhi mi giilyu biido ku

Piidin-khotu mi, adin-akhii mi giilyu biido ku

Siinyan- siillo TANII miyu lu-

Muku-sudu mi talyu biido ku

Dui-Yaachchu mi chulyu biido ku

Dekin-piichan mi khiilyu biido ku

Pyayo-paku mi diilyu biidu ku

O-dijje mi hilyu biidu ku

Aping-chiba mi balyu biido ku

Siinyan- siillo TANII miyu lu-

Gangu- benii mi belyu biita du

Elu benii mi belyu biita du

Biisi- siinin mi silyu biitadu

Ayu- yuniin mi yulyu biita du

Miji-baari mi helyu tabii du

Nitin-hormin mi helyu biita du

Siinyan- siillo TANII miyu lu-

Tiipey-yaping giifpa jalo

Ahhu-yaari mi giilyu jalo

Kente-pulye/abhi mi giilyu jalo

Muku-sudu,dui-yaachu mi opa kujalo

Dekin-piichan,pyayo-paku,O-dije, aping-chiba mi buku majalo

Ngunu TANII ka aya henju-miiju mi helyu-miilyu masa!

Ngunu Tanii ka biisi-ayu, miji-baari, nitin-hormin mi alyu masa!

English Translation for non-TANII readers:

In oden days, Tanii people were known for their Tiipey(Tatoo among both men and women), Yaping-Hullo (Nose pluck, only women) and Piidin (Head gear among men folk). Tanii folks of those days were very simple and same was their dressing. Men folk used to wear Ahhu & yaari (Yaari is a loin cloth covered with supporting layer of Ahhu) and women used to wear Kente abhi and tarii (hand woven clothes, generally thickly woven of cotton). In those days, Tanii children used to have typical hair style known as denge renii. It seems that parents used to shave their children heads with sharpened Yabin (i.e. bamboo piece). Once Tanii children attained their adolescents, their hairstyle had to be changed...boys used to get piidin and girls used tie bunny with help of akhii (comb made of bamboo). At same time, they used to get tattooed and nose pluck.

It has been recorded that Apatani peoples were good craftsmen. They used to make their own clay pot (Dekin Piichan) and also used to carve serving plates out of wooden log (i.e. Pyayo Paka) or bamboo. Whenever tanii folks need to travel, they used to pack their food in small bamboo bag like carrier made of split cane (i.e. chiba) and used Dije (special bamboo container) to carry ‘O’ (local rice wine or water).Tanii folks were fond of using tobacco in their daily life, thus they also used to make smoking pipe (muku-sudu (made of bamboo) for men folk) and tobacco carrier (dui-yaachu for women).

Siinyan-siillo Tanii miyu (Modern Taniis) has left certain practices such as tiipey paniin, yapping huniin and putting piidin. We can hardly find modern tanii using dekin piichan, pyayo- paka, chiba or dije for cooking or serving or for packing; those are replaced with modern cookery items available in nearby market. Neither can we see tanii folk using muku–sudu or dui- yaachu, it has been replaced by factory made cigarettes and tobacco sachets. This way modernization has done some good to TANII like abolishing of tattooing and piercing of nose, otherwise with those practices we could never imagined to pace with developments happening in our surroundings. We have to adopt certain changes for our growth but, we should never neglect to preserve our tradition & culture. LOST OF CULTURE IS LOST OF IDENTITY. Therefore, Siinyan-siillo Tanii miyu should try to preserve Ngunu TANII ka aya henju-miiju mi helyu-miilyu masa! Ngunu Tanii ka biisi-ayu, miji-baari, nitin-hormin mi alyu masa!

Source of pictures:

http://www.flickriver.com/

http://friends-of-ziro.blogspot.in/2009_12_01_archive.html

Tanii Aju-The Heritages Photos Archives of Apatanis authored by-Gyati Kobin

www.gettyimages.com

www.soas.ac.uk/

Fotos from FB friends

A list of animal/birds/insect/nature sounds

This morning when our dogs namely Pogo (German shepherd) and poly (Dachshund) were barking at the postman, something struck my mind. Starting with the barking of dogs, I could recall certain way of typically tanii words to describe sounds that are found in our surrounding.When I started with this topic, i took it very lightly and simply thought that I could complete with great easebut, I swear it wasn't that easy! For instant,I failed to recall certain sound like of Taru (mosquito) and patii (tiger). Following are the sounds in tanii:-

Sl. No.	Animal/Bird/Insect	Sound	Verb	Usage
1	Aki (Dog)	Kaau / kai (cry)	Pi	Byago si aki kaau-kaau la pila do/pido
2	Alyi (Pig)	Uye	gyu	Nekang si alyi uye-uye gyula do
3	Ami (Cat)	Meao	Be	Ami atu(puppy) si meao-meao la bela do
4	Kubu(Rat)	Chui	adu
5	Ngyii (fish)	Suyin /shok	chi	Kiiley si ngyii shok-shok dado chila da
6	Pachu/paro (Chicks- cheep &Chickens -cluck	Piyo /Peyo	pi	Pachu atu si piyo pikang la da
7	Paro Ronii (Hen)	Piida	adu	Inka paro si piida –piida la adu hasu dobye pe ha?
8	Patii (Tiger)
9	Paro Rofpo (Cock)	Cock	Kho	Lengo si Paro rofpo ako khola da/khodo
10	Piita(birds)	Chi-cha	adu	Aro konchi lyiku ho piita atan si chi-cha adu du.
11	Sii (Cow)/ Sibu (Mithun)	Ooma	gyu	Bije si siibu ako ooma la adu la do.
12	Siibi (Monkey)	Keyun	ben	Sanii ayo si siibi atan si keyun-keyun la bendo.
13	Siibin(Goat)	Mehen-mehen	adu	Ude byakan si siibin ako mehen-mehen adudo!
14	Tabu (Snake)	Rushu	lyi	Sansu ho tabu sohe rushu-rushu dado lyine
15	Tami (Fly)	Tshe	go	Yoh pater mi tami tshe-tshe dado gokiir biido (‘
				‘go’as because fly makes sounds only while flying)
16	Taru (Mosquito)		go
17	Tayang (wasp)	Yang	go	Apu arun ho tayang pyare yang-yang gola da
18	Tatii (Frog)	cro	Kho	Aji is tatii cro-cro khodo
Sounds of Nature
19	Alyi (Wind)	Hooyin/bhoor	He	Myoko uyi aku la padu alyi bhoor-bhoor hedo
20	Dolya (Lightning)	Byok (not exactly sound,its about lightning)	Byo	Yapung genkiile Dolya byok-byok byodo
21	Miido (Rain)	Byor	Hu	Ago si miido byor-byor dado hula do
22	Yapung Geniin (Thundering)	Durun	Gen	Yapun durun-durun genkiile, iinga si khegiido!
23	Yamu (Fire)	Bhook/ Byok	Ya/ti	More si yamu bhook-bhook yala do
24	Yasi-tuniin(flooding at river)	Dulu (not sure about the sound)	tu	Kiiley si dulu-dulu yasi tula doye
	chambiyo (Flash Flood)	Dulu	ha	Siyo ayo so dulu-dulu dado chambiyo harne
25	Myobyu huniin (Earthquake)	Riifpii	Hu	Myobyu huli ho tanii ude hii riifpii-riifpi la adu du (here riifpii is for that sound produced by tanii ude during earthquake and it indicates that it is being generated by the action of earthquake)

one can refer to this link for more sounds made by animal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_sounds

To conclude this article, I would like to request all tanii readers to contibute more sounds in tanii and also to correct my mistakes, if any.

TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF DECADE IN INDIA

On the very day of 22nd July 2009, the moon will eclipse the sun as seen from India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Japan and the Marshall Islands. It is going to be the longest solar eclipse for over a century (predicted to last for 6 minute and 39 second) and this time the path of totality passes through India. This eclipse pass over India comes after almost a decade. The last two eclipses happened in 1999 and 1995.

The eclipse begins on the 22nd of July 2009 at around 5:30 am IST in India and spends almost two hours passing the subcontinent. The path of totality will pass through central India passing over Surat, Ujjain, Baroda, Bhopal, Patna, Darjeeling, and Dibrugarh in the far east.

( Source:Internet)

Tanii mythology about SOLAR ECLIPSE (Danyi tatih aniih nii)

In Tanii (Apatani) mythology, it is believed that the occurrence of SOLAR ECLIPSE is due to Ejang Tatih (Solar Frog) swallowing AYO-DANYI (The sun). In Tanii culture Ayo-Danyi is the mother of every one and she serves tirelessly everyone throughout. Due to her busy service to everyone, sometime she falls into the mouth of Ejang Tatih (Solar Frog) and solar frog tries to swallow up with its great force which causes solar eclipse.

It is old belief that Solar frog is allergic to loud sound and noise of any kind. So, when solar eclipse occurred, noises were made by ringing bells, plates and shouting by every members of family as to release the sun from EJANG TATIH (solar frog).

(Though this mythological belief has faded up with better understanding about the scientific facts behind the occurrence of Solar eclipse. We the present generation of Tanii has not seen any such scene happening during any of the earlier solar eclipse or neither expect to see on 22^nd July’09. But, my mother told me that it used to happened in their childhood.)

Similar mythology of the ancient China

The ancient Chinese believed that solar eclipses occur when a legendary celestial dragon devours the Sun. They also believed that this dragon attacks the Moon during lunar eclipses. In the Chinese language, the term for eclipse was "chih" which also means "to eat". One ancient Chinese solar eclipse record describes a solar eclipse as "the Sun has been eaten".

It was a tradition in ancient China to bang drums and pots and make loud noise during eclipses to frighten that dragon away. Even more recently, in the nineteenth century, the Chinese navy fired its cannons during a lunar eclipse to scare the dragon that was eating the Moon.

Source: http://www.bibalex.org/eclipse2006/HistoricalObservationsofSolarEclipses.htm

FACTS ABOUT SOLAR ECLIPSE

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is fully or partially covered. This can only happen during a


new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from the Earth. At least two and up to five solar eclipses can occur each year on Earth, with between zero and two of them being total eclipses. Total solar eclipses are nevertheless rare at any location because during each eclipse totality exists only along a narrow corridor in the relatively tiny area of the Moon's umbra.

A Total eclipse in the umbra.
B Annular eclipse in the antumbra.
C Partial eclipse in the penumbra

(source: Wikipedia)

Picture:TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE

Don’ts During Solar Eclipse

• Never watch the eclipse with a naked eye.
• Don’t use Binoculars to view the eclipse.
• Don’t use Telescope to view the eclipse.
• Don’t use any cheap or easily available filters in Telescope or Binoculars to view the sun. Only specifically designed filters should be used with Telescope and Binoculars.
• Don’t watch the eclipse using color film.
• Don’t watch the eclipse with non-silver black and white film.
• Don’t watch the eclipse with medical x-ray films with images on them.
• Don’t use smoked glass to view the sun.
• All developed films lack a silver emulsion and therefore it should not be used to view the eclipse.

Do’s During Solar Eclipse

1. You should take the advice of an experienced person or a scientist before planning to view a Total Solar Eclipse
2. Only use specifically designed spectacles designed with filters to view the eclipse.
3. The safest method of viewing a Total Solar Eclipse is by projection, in which a small opening is used to cast the image of the Sun on a screen beyond the opening.
4. It is safe to view the total phase of an eclipse (when the moon completely coves the sun) with naked eye. But one needs to know when to stop and start viewing the total phase. So this is bit risky.

(Source: Hindu blog)