In the lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, Apatani tribes reside in peace and haven. Those anthropologists who have carried out research on the birth and origin of Apatani, inferred that they have descended from a `legendary ancestor, Abotani.` Further they have added that all the Apatani tribes have emigrated to Arunachal Pradesh from various region of north India that are situated in areas beyond Khru and Kime rivers. These facts have been depicted on the basis of remnants that are being found on 3 `neolithic` zones at Parsiparlo and Raga circle. Also few historical leftovers are there at Talle Valley, to justify the fact as has been mentioned right now.

Apatani tribes have got very good physique, rightly matched with very fair complexion. However the height varies from medium to tall. The timber and bamboo built houses of Apatani villages are very large and strongly built. However, often they have moved to other places on a temporary basis, in case some natural disasters occur, like breaking of fire, flood etc.

The culture and socio- economic conditions of Apatani needs more elaboration. Apatani family is highly patriarchal. They can be dissected into two classes, popularly known as, the Gyuchii and the Gyuttii. Moreover the Apatani tribe is sub-divided into quite a number of clans. However the common belief is that all of these clans have got the status of having fallen under a single tribal identity. Although amongst them, these Apatani tribes maintain a very cordial and harmonious relation. Inter class marriage is strictly being prohibited. Only the tribal `endogamy` and `clan exogamy` is the directive adopted by all the Apatani tribes.

However, coming in pace with the modern trend, instances of young Apatani getting married to a person of different caste is not rare. Especially, such trends are also being noticed nowadays amongst those Apatani people who are quite educated. Monogamy as the societal norm is widely prevalent. However quite now and then, bigamy is also practiced. Marriage ceremony is again being held either by the way of negotiations. Marriages also are being fixed on the basis of seeing an `omen` with the aid of chicken lever. The process is first initiated from the family of groom. Apatani tribes are mainly businessmen, establishing links with different Apatani classes on grounds of affinity, ritualistic practices and friendship ties only.

As far as religion and its customary rites and rituals are concerned, Apatani tribes follow their own local religious practices. In the ancient period, applying tattoo on the faces was in vogue. However, this special type of tattooing is being deterred by the younger generation and it has become totally obsolete.

Festivals and fairs are part and parcel of Apatani tribal community. Dree, Yapung, Murung and Myoko are the main festivals of Apatani. Dree festival is celebrated in the month of July each and every year, whilst Yapung festival is feted in the month of September or October. There is a great merry making and dancing during the Dree festival. Observation of another important festival is celebrated in special way. Usually held every year in the month of March, it is feted in a cyclical manner by creating three groups of villages. The first group consists of Hong village only. Second group are Hari and Bulla, consisting of villages, namely, Kalong, Reru, Tajang and Lempia .

The third and the last group are the villages of Michi, Hija, Dutta, Mudang-Tage, and Bamin. Quite a handful of Apatani tribes celebrate the festival of Murung, every year in the month of January.

The importance of all these festivals is that they all are observed with lots of enthusiasm amongst the Apatani tribes, thus ensuring better cultivation, preservation of the grains from various ill effects like storms, hailstone, insects and wild animals. They are also for the sake of welfare of villagers as well their wealth of `livestock`.

In the festivals and other joyful fetes, dancing and musical songs play an important role in all the festivals. In fact the Apatani tribes perform many conventional dances, amongst which the dances like Daminda and Pakhu Ittu dances are very popular.

The Apatanis are agriculturists, producing mainly paddy. Animal husbandry is another popular occupation of Apatani tribes. They rear `Mithuns` cattle, pig, goats and poultry. They practice fishing by nets, angles and traps. Hunting with the help of spears, traps and arrows are practiced. While Apatani women weave nicely, men adapts to basket crafting.

For better administration, there is a village council in each Apatani village consisting of one or two `Buliyang` spokesperson from each and every clan.