Indigenous salt tapyo among the Apatanis

Apatani Community
Lower Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Rimi Tadu has completed a comprehensive documentation of the indigenous salt-making process known as tapyo among the Apatanis. This unique food seasoning is crafted from plant ash, and holds significant cultural importance within the Apatani tribe. Rimi’s project extends beyond the technical aspects of tapyo production, encompassing a detailed exploration of the cultural values associated with this traditional seasoning. The Apatani people attribute various cultural meanings to tapyo, utilizing it in rituals, gift exchanges, and other significant practices. Notably, the preparation of tapyo is a gender-specific tradition, and regrettably, only a handful of elders in the Apatani valley still possess the knowledge required for its meticulous creation.

In the face of the widespread availability of common table salt in the contemporary lives of the Apatani people, the unique knowledge and cultural significance embodied by tapyo are teetering on the brink of extinction. Rimi Tadu’s documentation efforts stand as a crucial initiative to preserve and illuminate the heritage of tapyo within the Apatani community.