Categorization of Types of Death in Adi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

The word Adi is a generic name of a large number of ethnic communities which included the Padam, Minyongs, Komkars, Milangs, Panggi, Ashing, Karko, Shimong, Bori-Bokar and Pasi. It is one of the major ethnic groups among the 26 major ethnic groups in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, India and occupy the central zone of the state which is a home of 110 sub tribes and there are said to be about 26 major ethnic groups in the state. In Adi, death means Sinam. The separation of soul and body is considered as death of a person. But according to western concept of death in clinical term, death means unlived. The death is like a thing that direct opposite of life. Phenomenologically, death is nonbeing. The essential nature of life entails activity, purpose, and making order from disorder. Death is the antithesis of life. Nonlife is inactive, and despite its stillness, death is chaos. Life generates its own meaning. In contrast, on its face death appears devoid of meaning and value. This paper deals with the types of death, rites and rituals associated with the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh.