Aji Lhamu
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
A Monpa masked dance-drama in which performers in bright costumes enact a story with song and dance, staged at Losar and other festivals.
Folk theatreWhere: Arunachal Pradesh (Monpa community, Tawang and West Kameng)Occasion: Losar (the Monpa New Year) and village festivals
| Performed by | Groups of village men and women playing set characters |
|---|---|
| Costume | Colourful robes, crowns or hats and painted masks for some characters |
| Music and instruments | Drums and cymbals, with sung dialogue |
How it is performed
- The troupe enters the village courtyard to the beat of drums and cymbals.
- Characters, some of them masked, introduce themselves through dance.
- The story is told in sung verses, with comic interludes that draw laughter from the crowd.
- The performance ends with blessings for the village and the new year.
Significance
Aji Lhamu shares its roots with the Tibetan opera tradition and is one of the main festive entertainments of the Monpa people.