The Nyishi people are the largest ethnic group in Arunachal Pradesh. While there are no clear records, traditionally, it is believed that this tribe has Sino-Tibetan roots. Itanagar has a high concentration of people from the Nyishi tribe. The people are mostly agriculturalists who practice shifting agriculture called jhum, where the land is cleared and crops planted for several seasons. Once the soil loses its fertility, the area is cleared through slashing and burning and left uncultivated for a while. The practice of Jhum has not just economic implications; there are associated social and religious ceremonies for this tribe that worship trees and forests.
Nyishi tribesmen grow their hair long and wear it in a braid secured by a sacred thread. They also wear a cane helmet attached with the beak of the great Hornbill bird. This practice is now frowned upon because of the danger of extinction of the bird. Many men now replace the beak with fibreglass imitations.
You can get pan-Indian and international cuisines in Itanagar. However, it would be a pity not to try out the delicious, fresh, and simple local foods. Chura subji is a dish made from yak’s milk cheese, served with boiled rice and a dash of Pika pila, a hot and spicy bamboo pickle preserved in pork fat. Lukter is a meat dish, pork, or even mutton sundried and grilled with a Bhut Jhalokia chilly. There are also other dishes made with maize, fish, local greens, and bamboo shoots. The food is prepared with very little oil and usually steamed or grilled.
No meal is complete without a glass of Apong, an alcoholic fermented rice beverage. It is a highly nutritious, potent drink with a sweet malt flavor.