Like any other indigenous settlements, the tribal communities of Arunachal Pradesh have been following the practice of passing down the folklores of the land to the coming generations. One of such stories is the tale of Taji Tarak Mountain of Arunachal Pradesh, which is located near the Kidding, Kullung and Tapo villages of Mengio circle of Papum Pare district. 

The mountain gets its name from the local dialect of the Nyishi community of Arunachal Pradesh. Taji Tarak stands for a rocky mountain laden with broom grasses, as the Taji translates into broom and Tarak into a rocky mountain. It has often been considered to look like Sabbey Hangtang which means the back portion of a Mithun. Many nearby dwellers have claimed to have seen tigers and wild animals in the area during their hunting and fishing expeditions; it is a long traditional practice of the village populace in Arunachal Pradesh. The mountain also presents a vantage point to enjoy the panoramic view of the Mengio Circle. However, it’s popularity is not drawn from its scenic beauty, but due to the many folklores it is associated with.

One popular folk tale follows that the Taji Tarak Mountain was once home to the invisible beings called ‘Mig-Mire’. They used to dwell in the deep forests of the mountain where they grew different types of fruits borne of magic. Notable mentions among the fruits grown were the Nyari-Yokka and Uppum-Ujuk which are believed to be a special kind of gourd. These were used to carry water and local beverages by them. But they weren’t the only ones in the story. Somewhere near, there lived an invisible dragon known by the name of Martung Tam who used to rule the world. In order to display the grandeur of his power and dominance, one day he swallowed the sun which was the only source of life on Earth. The deep darkness that followed, caused the Tam Dimik Nam (Solar Eclipse) to occur. This behavior didn’t really please the Mig-Mire. They were so much angered by the incident that they decided to take the dragon down in order to rescue the sun. The furious Mig-Mire took out their bows and shot arrows aimed at the invisible dragon. The attack was so powerful that it went right through the heart of Martung Tam and it was bound to release the sun from its clutches. This way the Mig-Mire of the mountain ended the solar eclipse and restored the sun back to normal.

The folklores prevalent around the Taji Tarak Mountain vary a lot from each other. These stories revolve around different subjects, but are all equally thrilling to the ears. Another such popular story is about an old man who accidently set fire to the mountain. He was actually in search of his Sabbey (mithun) in the jungle. During the search, he mistakenly set a fire inside the jungle which eventually grew out of control and engulfed the entire forest of Taji Tarak. But that’s not all. The fire apparently led to the destruction of the home of the Mig-Mire, where they grew magical fruits. As per the story, the fire also claimed the life of Mig Mire’s daughter, who was loved very dearly. The old man died a few years later the incident. There is a strong belief among the elders that it was the death spell casted by the Mig-Mire that caused his death. In other words, it was a revenge taken for the little daughter lost in the fire.

Although these stories aren’t relevant much in the present era, these folklores carry a lot more than just interesting events. They tell a lot about the beliefs, the customs and the cultures of the communities in Arunachal Pradesh. For an instance, in the first story there have been mentions of Sun and the local beverages. Local beverages are an integral part of the tribal communities here, while the sun and moon have always been integral to the indigenous faith followed in Arunachal. The stories also make numerous references to Mithuns (Gayal). Out of all the animals, Mithuns are considered very sacred by the communities of Arunachal Pradesh and they are almost always associated with any tribal festivals held. The fact that the old man goes on to search for his Sabbey is also an indication of the prevalent practice where villagers in Arunachal Pradesh release their mithuns to graze in the wild. It is remarkable in the sense that these villagers respect the ownership and carry on with this practice without causing any arguments over the ownership of the mithuns later on.

The sources of the stories aforementioned have been taken from one Gollo Nagu Nguri, who is very vocal about the promotion of the folklores of Arunachal Pradesh. To have individuals like him come forward and preserve the folklores of the state is very inspiring indeed. These Folklores are mostly passed down orally from one generation to other. It makes it all the more crucial to protect and promote these delicate heritages of our ancestors, and continue the practice of imparting these tales to the many generations to come.