A tale of Tai Bida the man who discover the Ganga Lake. Its the origin story of Ganga Lake (Gekar Sinyik in Nyishi), under the Toru circle in Sagalee Administration, Arunachal Pradesh. The Tale Weaves a story of fortune, sacrifice, and the mysterious disappearance of its Mithuns (Bos frontalis).
Tale of Tai Bida Origin of Ganga Lake
One day, while hunting in the mountains, Tai Bida stumbled upon a wild Mithun.
He capture the Mithun domesticate it. Bida was amazed when the Mithun brought him unbelivable fortune by giving birth to hundreds of Mithuns. His fame grew, and Bida’s life flourished as the number of Mithuns under his care continued to multiply in number.
However, a tragedy struck in his life when Bida’s wife fell seriously ill. A Priest advise him to sacrifice a Mithun, at first he hesitated but he finally decided to sacrifice the mother Mithun. The decision marked the beginning of a fateful turn of his life and fortune. While the preparations were made for the sacrifice, the mother Mithun overheard the discussions and cried all night.
In the morning, He found that the all his Mithuns are missing. He saw a thousands of footprints outside his house revealed that the all his Mithun left. Distraught, He followed the footprints, which led him to a tough journey through hills, plains, and mountains. At last the footprints ultimately led Him to a Ganga Lake, where all traces of his Mithuns vanished there.
The legend has it that the mother of Mithun led all her babies into the underworld through the lake, leaving Bida in despair.
Devastated, Bida took rest on a rock, now called Budum Langne. As he narrated his story, his footprints mysteriously imprinted on the rock, this footprits is still present in this day.
The place holds a mystical significance, as supernatural snakes, known as Balang Budum, emerged from the rock to comfort Bida in his sorrow.
Following the loss of his Mithuns, He encountered several peculiar events, including trapping a Deer instead of fishes in his Seppe (fish trap). However, tragedy struck the village as a devastating flood swept away Bida’s family and the entire community, leaving his fate shrouded in mystery.
~THE END~
This story of Tai Bida and Ganga Lake is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh.
As modernization progresses, the tale serves as a reminder to cherish and preserve our identity, culture, and traditions for future generations.