The Tawang Festival

8-10 November 2023

The Tawang Festival of 2023 was held from 8 to 10 November, one of Arunachal Pradesh’s premier cultural celebrations. Set in the majestic landscape of Tawang town, it was a riot of colours, traditional Monpa music, dances, religious rituals, and communal energy. The festival kicked off with a street carnival in Tawang’s old market, and that evening, monks of Tawang Monastery performed Manglacharan and Sebang, blessing the festival.

Over the following three days at the Festival showgrounds, there were exhibitions, food stalls, and local Monpa people performing traditional games. In the evening, traditional dance performances by local cultural groups, schools, and even the fitness centre took place, along with a display of ethnic costumes from the different tribal groups of Arunachal Pradesh. The festivities continued well into the night, featuring performances by various music artists from other parts of India.

View to the Festival showground, Tawang.

A Buddhist ceremony performed by monks of Tawang Monastery at the start of the Festival of Tawang.

Monks of the Tawang Monastery invoke prayers and blessings for the Tawang Festival.

Monks of Tawang Monastery perform a ceremony, with chanting, cymbals and blowing the "dungchen", the long horn, starting the Festival of Tawang.

Different instruments played by monks of Tawang Monastery during the Buddhist ceremony blessing the Festival of Tawang.

Playing drum and "dungchen", the long trumpet, in the Buddhist ceremony by monks of Tawang Monastery at the start of the Tawang Festival.

Traditional Monpa music by the Monpa Institute of Performing Arts group of Tawang.

The Sakteng Mera Monpa dance, by the Self Help Group of Tawang.

A Tibetan Group dance, by students from the Thubten Choeling Balika Vidyalaya Secondary School of Lhou village, near Tawang.

Dhabo le Phulio, a Nepali Group dance by the Gorkha Cultural Group of Tawang.

The Gorkha Cultural Group performing Dhabo le Phulio, a Nepali Group dance.

A Tibetan Dance from the Tingri region in Tibet, by WASV, a cultural group in Tawang.

The WASV cultural group performing a Tibetan Dance from Tingri.

A Tibetan Dance from the Tingri region in Tibet, by WASV, a cultural group.

Serko Gamchung Soma, a Monpa Group Dance by the Dokpa Pangchen Cultural Troupe.

Nima Dawa Sharsong, a Monpa Group Dance by the Alumni Group of the Government Secondary School in Bomba, south of Tawang.

A Monpa Group Dance, Nima Dawa Sharsong, by the Alumni Group of Government Secondary School, Bomba village.

The Bihu Dance, by the Assamese Culture Troupe of Tawang.

The Assamese Culture Troupe of Tawang performing the Bihu Dance.

The Bihu Dance from Assam, by the Assamese Culture Troupe of Tawang.

The Assamese Culture Troupe of Tawang performing the Bihu Dance from Assam.

Men playing “Lei”, a traditional game, at the Tawang Festival showground.

“Lei”, one of the traditional games played at the Tawang Festival.

Men playing a traditional game, at the Tawang Festival showground.

“Mlathan”, archery, one of the traditional games performed at the Tawang Festival.

Aiming at the target, “Mlathan”, archery, a traditional game at the Tawang Festival.

Men playing “Punggor” (shotput), one of the games in the Tawang Festival showground.

A man playing “Behgor”, lifting a large boulder and throwing it over his shoulder, one of the traditional Monpa games.

“Behgor”, lifting a large boulder and throwing it over his shoulder, by a performer at the festival.

Men playing “Lei”, a traditional game, at the Tawang Festival.

“Lei”, one of the traditional games played at the Tawang Festival showground.

Men practice archery, "Mlathan", at the festival.

Men playing “Thekpa-teng-ri”, tug-of-war, in the Tawang Festival showground.

“Thekpa-teng-ri”, tug-of-war, a traditional game, at the Tawang Festival.

Playing “Thekpa-teng-ri”, tug-of-war, a traditional game played by men.

Tsawai Lama, a Monpa Group Dance by the Ketshenga Cultural Troupe on the second night at the Tawang Festival.

A Monpa Group Dance by the Monpa Institute of Performing Arts.

Yargi Gungte chola, a Monpa Group Dance by the Lhagong Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

Om mane pame hung, a Monpa Group Dance by the Ketshenga Cultural Troupe.

The Ketshenga Cultural Troupe performs "Om mane pame hung", a Monpa Group Dance.

Dosa chi so ya mago Thingbu, a Monpa Group Dance by the Snow Lion Cultural Troupe.

A Folk Dance of the Nyishi people, the largest ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh, by the Nishi Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

A Nyisi (Nishi) Folk Dance by the Nishi Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

Serku Gomchung Sama, a Monpa Group Dance by My Gym, a fitness centre in Tawang.

A Nishi Modern Dance of the Nyishi people, the largest ethnic group of Arunachal Pradesh, by the Nishi Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

Dandin Tashi Geypo, a Tibetan Dance by the Snow Lion Cultural Troupe.

Playing a roulette game, throwing a dart at a rotating board, at the showgrounds of the festival.

Throwing a dart at a rotating board, a roulette game, one of the activities at the festival showgrounds.

Monpa Group Dance by the Monpa Institute of Performing Arts, on the third night at the Festival of Tawang.

A Folk Dance of the Apatani people, an indigenous community living in the Ziro valley, by the Apatani Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

An Apatani Folk Dance by the Apatani Cultural Troupe of Tawang.

Kongpo, a Tibetan Dance by the WASV Cultural Troupe.

A Tibetan Dance (Kongpo) by the WASV Cultural Troupe.

Plang thengpul, a Monpa Group Dance by the Snow Lion Cultural Troupe.

Plang thengpul, a Group Dance of the Monpa people by the Snow Lion Cultural Troupe.

Cho-cho, a dance of the Sherdukpen people, an ethnic group primarily from the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, by the WASF Cultural Troupe.

A Group Dance of the Monpa people, living in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

A modern dance by young women at the Festival of Tawang.

A Monpa Group Dance on the stage at the festival.

The Ethnic Dress Show, showcasing the costumes of the various peoples of Arunachal Pradesh, by Arunachal Round.

An Apatani Modern Dance by the Apatani Cultural Troupe of Tawang.