Dharamshala: The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) made its inaugural visit to Menchukha, Arunachal Pradesh, following an invitation from the Sonam Losar Organising Committee. A 15-member delegation, led by the TIPA Director and including the Assistant Artistic Director, teachers, and performers, departed from Dharamshala on 8 February 2025. The delegation arrived in Menchukha, Northeast India, on 10 February where they received a warm welcome from the Organising Committee members and enthusiastic local residents. 

From 12 to 14 February 2025, TIPA artists presented traditional Tibetan dance and music performances as part of the three-day Sonam Losar (Agricultural New Year) festival. The performances were met with joy and excitement from the local community. 

Menchukha, situated near the Tibetan border, is home to the Memba people whose ancestors migrated from Tibet several centuries ago. The Memba community has preserved Buddhist faith and maintained Tibetan customs and Kongpo regional traditions through generations. The primary purpose of this first-time invitation to TIPA was to help introduce and transmit ancestral cultural traditions to the younger generation of Memba people. 

TIPA teachers and artists showcased Tibetan cultural heritage during the Sonam Losar with the aim of helping preserve rich Tibetan cultural traditions and facilitating their transmission to younger generations. The visit also served to strengthen bonds between Tibetan and Himalayan communities. 

The performances generated significant interest among local youth in Tibetan performing arts and culture. Meaningful discussions took place regarding the possibility of young people from the Menchukha region attending future cultural training programs at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. 

-Report filed by TIPA