Family Structure

In the Adi society, which is patrilineal and patriarchal, inheritance practices reflect a balance between traditional norms and considerations for daughters. While sons typically inherit the bulk of immovable property and land, daughters are entitled to certain movable assets and personal belongings they have acquired during their time in the parental household.

Daughters often receive a share of clothes and items such as bead necklaces or other possessions that they have earned or accumulated independently. These items are considered personal belongings that the daughters have acquired through their own efforts or received as gifts.

This practice ensures that daughters have some form of economic security and autonomy, particularly in terms of personal possessions and clothing.

Legacy

The Adi tribe is traditionally believed to have migrated from southern China around the 16th century. Over centuries, they settled in the northeastern region of India, particularly in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Economy

The Adis traditionally practiced shifting cultivation, also known as Jhum, as an ancient agricultural method. However, in the past 60 years, some Adis have adopted more modern settled cultivation practices.

The craftsmanship of the Adis is particularly evident in their skillful work with cane and bamboo. They produce a variety of items such as baskets, trays, haversacks, mats, hats, and intricately designed headgear for domestic use. Women are especially adept weavers, creating garments like coats, jackets, bags, skirts, shawls, and blankets using handloom techniques.

Agriculture forms the backbone of Adi livelihoods, with both wet rice cultivation and shifting cultivation being practiced. Hills and slopes are terraced for cultivation, while dry lands are used for cash crops such as maize and mustard. Their agricultural practices yield abundant crops, ensuring economic self-sufficiency.

In addition to agriculture, fishing and hunting play significant roles in supplementing food sources. Fishing is often conducted on a large scale by diverting water from streams and using barricades of leaves and gravel for netting and trapping fish. Hunting involves shotguns and traps, with bows and arrows becoming less common. Game hunts include birds, rats, squirrels, wild boar, and various types of deer.

Current Population

80,000

Culture & Traditions

Both men and women in the Adi community traditionally maintain closely cropped hair, and polygamy remains a practiced custom. In villages, boys and men typically gather in dormitory clubs known as Moshup, while some villages also have separate clubs for girls called Raseng. These dormitories historically served as spaces where young Adi individuals learned about their traditions and responsibilities, though today, many children attend government schools instead.

Religion

The Adi people believe on Donyi-Polo, representing the duality of the Sun and Moon. Donyi-Polo is not merely the physical Sun and Moon but a transcendent supreme power that is believed to be omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. Alongside their reverence for Donyi-Polo, the Adi also acknowledge the existence of numerous spirits.