people & culture
The heart & soul of Zemithang
To step into Zemithang is to step into living heritage. Here, the Monpa way of life unfolds in stone homes, butter lamps, sacred dances, and mountain meals — offering visitors not just a glimpse of tradition, but a chance to live it.
Guardians of a Sacred Vow
The people of Zemithang are traditionally known as Pangchenpa, followers of a vow to abstain from the ten major sins in Buddhism.
Their settlements, collectively called Pangchhen Tso, are built with stone and timber, often featuring home chapels with Buddha statues, butter lamps, and ritual offerings. Their villages are marked by gompas, prayer flags, chortens, and stone shrines, making faith central to daily life.
The Monpas belong to the Tibeto-Mongoloid group and practice Mahayana Buddhism (Gelukpa and Nyingmapa sects).
Did you know?
This principle of non-violence ("ahimsa") is a cornerstone of their identity, making Zemithang a unique sanctuary where hunting is banned and you will not find a single meat shop or fish market in the valley.
Farmers of the High Altitudes
The Monpa are skilled agriculturists, practicing both permanent and shifting cultivation. Despite the challenges of high-altitude farming, they grow a variety of crops including maize, millet, barley, wheat, potatoes, and a wide range of vegetables and medicinal plants.
The Brokpa Nomads
A distinct group within the Monpa are the Brokpa, nomadic yak herders. They practice transhumance, migrating with their herds between seasonal pastures—wintering in lower valleys and summering in alpine meadows above 13,000 feet. They raise yaks, sheep, and prized dzomos (a yak-cow hybrid) for milk, meat, and fibre. Their economy is based on a sophisticated system of exchanging dairy products with farming communities for grain.
Modern Livelihoods
Today, many villagers find employment as labourers with the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF), which builds and maintains border roads, providing a significant source of cash income for the community.
Did you know?
Every part of the yak is used: milk for butter and cheese, hair for weaving, tails for ritual objects, and dung for fuel.
A Diet Rooted in the Land
The Monpa diet is a sustainable practice of mountain agriculture, relying on locally grown crops and livestock without chemicals. Staples include rice, millet, and maize, complemented by vegetables, dairy products from yaks, and meat such as pork, chicken, and mutton. A unique feature of Zemithang is that due to their non-violence vow, residents must source fresh meat from outside the valley or wait for an animal to die naturally.
Signature Dishes & Drinks
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Thukpa: A hearty noodle soup, often with meat.
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Momos: Steamed dumplings, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, served with a fiery chutney called chamin (made from chillies and fermented cheese).
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Puta: Buckwheat noodles, a local specialty.
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Sueja: Salty, buttery yak milk tea, essential for warmth.
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Chhyang: A ubiquitous fermented alcoholic beverage made from grains like millet or rice, central to social and ceremonial life. Its distilled form is called Arah.
Did you know?
Children too sip chhyang, the local brew is considered nourishing and part of everyday social life.
Guests are always welcomed with butter tea (suja)—a salty, rich brew made with yak butter.
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Tibetan-Bhutanese Dialect
The Monpas speak dialects of Dakpa (in Zemithang–Tawang) and Brokpa (in Dirang and Kalaktang), both part of the Tibeto-Burman family.
The name “Monpa” itself means Men of the Lower Country in Tibetan, referring to their location south of Tibet.
Did you know?
Despite dialect differences, Monpas across regions can usually converse in Tibetan.
A sacred rhythm
The Monpa people have a rich tradition of dance and festival, deeply intertwined with their religious beliefs and agricultural life.
Sacred Dances:
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Achilamu: A unique and popular pantomime dance performed by a group of five during special occasions.
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Cham: A sacred monastic dance performed on religious occasions, characterized by elaborate masks and costumes that embody mythological narratives.
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Yak Dance: Performed at Losar, this dance depicts the legend of the yak's introduction to the region and highlights its importance to Monpa culture.
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Guided by the Lunar Calendar
The Monpa calendar is marked by vibrant festivals, primarily rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, that dictate the rhythm of community and spiritual life.
The annual festival cycle includes Losar and Cheycu in January, Gorsam Kora in March, Saga Dawa in April, Chotpa in May, Dukpa Tseyze and Zarphon in July, Choikor in September, Mangtor in October and December, and Chuwa Gangden Ngamchon in November.
Losar (The Buddhist New Year)
The most important festival, celebrated in February. For three days, families celebrate with special traditional dishes, Singchang (a form of Chhyang), and rituals to welcome prosperity and ward off negativity for the coming year.
Torgya
A religious festival held at Tawang Monastery one month before Losar. Monks perform sacred Cham dances and rituals over three days to destroy evil forces and ensure health, happiness, and prosperity for the community.
Choekor
An annual agricultural festival blessed by monks. The holy scripture (Choe) is carried in a procession (Kor) around the crop fields to ensure a bountiful harvest. Participants wear traditional dress and are offered tea, puta, bangchang, and chhyang during the circumambulation.
Social & Ceremonial Traditions
Beyond the large public festivals, Monpa culture is defined by intimate social rituals that strengthen community bonds.
Dhun Chhyang
A festive, informal gathering among friends held after the harvest. Everyone contributes chhyang and food for a night of joyful drinking, traditional singing, and storytelling.
Marriage Rituals
The alcoholic beverage Arah is central to marriage. The process begins with krung-chhyang, where the groom's family proposes with a gift of wine. Upon acceptance, llong-chhyang finalizes the engagement, and both families begin brewing chhyang for the wedding feast.
Leam Chhyang
A heartfelt roadside ceremony during a wedding procession. The community stops the bride's party to offer a khada (ceremonial scarf), chhyang, and blessings for a prosperous married life, showcasing the collective joy and support for the couple.Weaving, Wool & Woodwork
Craft traditions reflect both utility and devotion. From yak-horn ornaments, tails as ritual fans (chawar), to handmade paper, thangka paintings, and woollen carpets, the Monpas combine natural resources with artistry.
Everyday crafts include bamboo baskets, carved wooden vessels, and sturdy woollen garments.
A unique invention, the chuskor (a water-powered grain mill), is still seen as a symbol of wealth and sustainable knowledge.
Did you know?
Yak wool is not only warm and soft but also odour-resistant, static-free, and highly durable.
The Monpas dye their traditional clothes using natural colours—often from rhododendron plants.
Get to know the Monpas
