Atho-Popu

Atho-Popu (also known as Popu) is the sacred place for the Idu people.

According to the native Idus, it is believed that the souls of the dead will either rest or settle here, while the rest will go to heaven. The priest that performs the funeral rites literally rows the soul by his powers across the mountains and skies, and on their way they halt here. It is believed that the souls of the dead living there have their own paddy cultivation.

It is well-related to the stories of a great priest named Sineru, who was on his way to some place when a bird conveyed him about his mother's demise. As he cried and rubbed his eyes, some of his tears on the rock, which rendered the rock to shed tears as well. The rock is believed to be shedding tears even today.

Discovery

The stories that led to curiosity among certain intellectuals of the society led to an expedition under the sponsorship of the Arunachal Pradesh tourist department. Basic information about the location were collected by an old priest. The expedition comprised of several indigenous youths, along with some Indian defence personals. They headed towards high mountains, and after about two weeks of trekking reached the place.

The accounts given by the old people and the idea conveyed by the stories which have been passed on orally since ages proved to be true. Evidence laid in the essistence of the strange variety of paddies that the natives never used, and it was very neatly maintained and natured. Found at some distance away from the tribal villages, the expeditioners found the alleged palm-prints of the great-priest Sineru on the weeping rock, which were believed to be imprinted, as he stood there supporting himself in grief, coping up with the sad-news about the demise of his mother.

The accounts of the journey and the findinds have been given in a booklet published by the Idu Cultural and Literary Society (ICLS) and was written by one of the pioneers named Epra Mekola.