Guardian Spirits, Omens and Meat for the Clans

The Place of Animals among the Apatanis of Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

In this chapter the author will discuss how one Tani group, the Apatanis, understand, use and live with animals, and what non-human animals mean in their religious beliefs. The chapter will bring a number of examples drawn from my own fieldwork in the villages of Hari and Mudang Tage in 2002, 2009 and 20103 as well as from previous academic literature. It includes a description of animal sacrifices during large festivals, rites of protection, health-seeking rituals, haruspicy and judiciary rituals.