Tawang Festival Carnival Parade

8 and 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, featuring over 400 artists performing folk dances like Aji Lhamo, Baa Chham, the Yak dance, Lion dance, Arpo, and Kyeng Chham and finishing with the pipe band of the Indian Army Eastern Command. On the last day of the festival there was another street carnival parade, watched by a huge crowd; they walked from the old market along the main street and then turned around, marching back to the old market, a spectacular spectacle.

Masked dancers, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Watching the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

A boy posing at the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Young Monpa women in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Monpa women dancing in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Monpa men dancing in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Dancing “snow lions” in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Dancing “yaks” with masked dancer in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Masked temple dancers, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Masked dancers, with drum and cymbal, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Men with headdresses, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Women dancers with headdresses, accompanied by drum and cymbal, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

Women dancers with headdresses in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

“Skeleton” dancers, with drum, in the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

The Eastern command pipe band of the Indian Army concluding the Carnival Parade of the Festival of Tawang.

The Eastern command pipe band of the Indian Army concluding the Carnival Parade of the Tawang Festival.

Women in traditional Monpa dress posing after the Carnival Parade on the first day of the Tawang Festival.

On the last day of the Tawang Festival, people waiting for the Carnival Parade.

A man in Monpa headdress leading celebrants on pony in the Carnival Parade on the last day of the Tawang Festival.

The Carnival Parade, with many colourful dancers, on the last day of the Tawang Festival.

Dancing “snow lions” in the Carnival Parade on the last day of the Tawang Festival.

A masked dancer with large wooden phallus, in the Carnival Parade on the last day of the Tawang Festival.

Masked temple dancers, in the Carnival Parade on the last day of the Tawang Festival.