They follow Animism and Shamanism. Ini Mashelo-Zinu and Nani Intaya are the supreme deities who are worshipped. Idu Mishmis believe that they created the universe and mankind. They also believe in the almighty sun and the divine spirit that governs the universe, spirits that govern nature and have a strong belief in an afterlife and spirit guides. They worship spirits, including benevolent and malevolent ones, and believe in the existence of ghosts. The Idu Mishmi tribe's shaman is called an Igu, and they perform rituals and dances to ensure the safety and health of their families and households. The Igu wears a coat, loin cloth, and an apron-like garment, and uses musical instruments while dancing, chanting, and singing.
Locations
In China, Idu Mishmi is spoken in Xiba village 西巴村, which has just over 40 residents and is located at the foot of Xikong Mountain 习孔山. Xiba village is located 10 kilometers from the nearest administrative center, namely Migu village 米古村 (Jiang 2005:4).[2] The Idu live in the Danba River 丹巴江 and E River 额河 watersheds in Zayü County, Tibet. They are officially classified by the Chinese government as ethnic Lhoba people.
In India, the Idu are found in Arunachal Pradesh, although after the declaration of Roing as a Township, Adi people migrated south towards Sadiya. Idus followed and occupied the Northern Part of Lower Dibang Valley.
Idu People are believed to have migrated with the Adi from southern Tibet in the early 1700s following footprints.
Script
The Idu Mishmi people did not usually have a script of their own. When needed Idu Mishmis tended to use the Tibetan script.[citation needed] Currently the Idu Mishmi have developed the Latin orthography known as "Idu Azobra".
↑Jiang Huo. 2005. Yiduyu Yanjiu. Beijing: Minzu University Press.
↑CULHANE, Kirsten & PECK, Naomi & BOUAZIZ, Wifek & REINÖHL, Uta. 2023. The loss of word-initial consonants in Kera’a: A challenge for phonological theory. 26th Himalayan Languages Symposium, 4–6 September 2023. Paris: INALCO.
↑REINÖHL, Uta. 2023. Shamanic languages and their potentials for understanding language history, genealogy and contact – The case of Igu. 26th Himalayan Languages Symposium, 4–6 September 2023. Paris: INALCO.
Blench, Roger, Mite Linggi, Hindu Meme, and Apomo Linggi. 2016. Reading and writing Idu: a book of letters. Roing, Arunachal Pradesh: Idu Language Development Committee.
