Festivals play an important role in building the spirit of community life among the Monpas. Festivals mirror the rich culture of the people. Like the other tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, the festivals of Monpas are mostly associated with Agriculture and Religion.
The main festivals of Monpas are Losar and Torgya. Besides these,there are many other festivals like Saka Dawa, Drukpa Tse-Shi, Lhabab Duechen, Ganden Ngam Choe, and Choekor procession.
Losar: It is the new year festival of the Monpas and is marked with a lot of gaiety and festivity. In this festival, the Monpas go to the houses of their relatives and elders in order to receive new year wishes. Losar is not only the biggest festval but also the happiest one. The date of the Losar festival is determined by the Lunar calendar. On the eve of the festival, people clean their houses as well the village complex to usher in the New Year and discard the old. The dirt of the old year is considered to symbolise ill health.New religious flags are hoisted at the top of homes.. Also during this period, lamps are lit and prayers are offered for peace and harmony. Hot ‘Chang’(local wine) mixed with Khabsay( Losar Snack) is served.
Saka Dawa: This festival is celebrated in the Fourth Month of the Lunar Calender to mark the birth, attaintment of supreme enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. Hence this month is regarded as the holiest month.
Dukpa Tse-She: On the fourth day of the seventh month i.e Dukpa Tse-Shi, the Lord Buddha delivered his maiden preaching on the Four Noble Truths at Deer Park in Sarnath. The day is commemorated by visiting religious shrines and offering prayers.
Choe-Kor: It is an important religious procession organized by the whole village community with an aim to providing supernatural protection to the crops grown and for a bumper harvest and also to chase away the evil spirits which might harm the village community. The Choe-Kor is organized in the seventh month of Lunar Calender when there is least agricultural activity. This procession is led by two Kong-Yoks and behind them is a large crowd following with bulky and voluminous religious holy books.
Lhabab Duechen: The Twenty Second day of the Ninth month of the Lunar Calender is celebrated as Lhabab Duechen- The day on which Lord Buddha descended from Tushita, the realm of God. The day is devoted to religious activities like circumambulating shrines, lighting lamps and praying.
Gaden Ngamchoe: As per the Lunar Calender, this festival falls in the Twenty Fifth day of the Tenth Month. This day is observed to perpetuate the death anniversary of Je Tsongapa, the founder of the Gelukpa Sect. As a mark of devotion and to mourn his death, bright butter lamps are placed on the roofs of the houses and Monasteries during the night.
Torgya: It is a Monastic festival celebrated every year in the 28th day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar which generally falls in the month of January every year. This festival is believed to be celebrated to chase out the evil spirits and usher in prosperity and happiness. During the festival ritual monastic masked dances in magnificient traditional attires are performed in douzhe, the courtyard of Tawang Monastery.
The main festivals of Monpas are Losar and Torgya. Besides these,there are many other festivals like Saka Dawa, Drukpa Tse-Shi, Lhabab Duechen, Ganden Ngam Choe, and Choekor procession.
Losar: It is the new year festival of the Monpas and is marked with a lot of gaiety and festivity. In this festival, the Monpas go to the houses of their relatives and elders in order to receive new year wishes. Losar is not only the biggest festval but also the happiest one. The date of the Losar festival is determined by the Lunar calendar. On the eve of the festival, people clean their houses as well the village complex to usher in the New Year and discard the old. The dirt of the old year is considered to symbolise ill health.New religious flags are hoisted at the top of homes.. Also during this period, lamps are lit and prayers are offered for peace and harmony. Hot ‘Chang’(local wine) mixed with Khabsay( Losar Snack) is served.
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| Losar Festival of Tawang |
Saka Dawa: This festival is celebrated in the Fourth Month of the Lunar Calender to mark the birth, attaintment of supreme enlightenment, and the passing away of the Buddha. Hence this month is regarded as the holiest month.
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| Saka Dawa Festival of Tawang |
Dukpa Tse-She: On the fourth day of the seventh month i.e Dukpa Tse-Shi, the Lord Buddha delivered his maiden preaching on the Four Noble Truths at Deer Park in Sarnath. The day is commemorated by visiting religious shrines and offering prayers.
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| Dukpa Tse-She Festival of Tawang |
Choe-Kor: It is an important religious procession organized by the whole village community with an aim to providing supernatural protection to the crops grown and for a bumper harvest and also to chase away the evil spirits which might harm the village community. The Choe-Kor is organized in the seventh month of Lunar Calender when there is least agricultural activity. This procession is led by two Kong-Yoks and behind them is a large crowd following with bulky and voluminous religious holy books.
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| Choe-Kor Festival of Tawang |
Lhabab Duechen: The Twenty Second day of the Ninth month of the Lunar Calender is celebrated as Lhabab Duechen- The day on which Lord Buddha descended from Tushita, the realm of God. The day is devoted to religious activities like circumambulating shrines, lighting lamps and praying.
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| Lhabab Duechen Festival of Tawang |
Gaden Ngamchoe: As per the Lunar Calender, this festival falls in the Twenty Fifth day of the Tenth Month. This day is observed to perpetuate the death anniversary of Je Tsongapa, the founder of the Gelukpa Sect. As a mark of devotion and to mourn his death, bright butter lamps are placed on the roofs of the houses and Monasteries during the night.
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| Gaden Ngamchoe Festival of Tawang |
Torgya: It is a Monastic festival celebrated every year in the 28th day of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar which generally falls in the month of January every year. This festival is believed to be celebrated to chase out the evil spirits and usher in prosperity and happiness. During the festival ritual monastic masked dances in magnificient traditional attires are performed in douzhe, the courtyard of Tawang Monastery.
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| Torgya Festival of Tawang |
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