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The Aji Lhamu dance of the Monpa and Sherdukpen tribes residing in the high Himalayas of Arunachal Pradesh is an amalgamation of quick rotations and sharp movements performed to the beat of cymbals and drums. Through dance, drama, and dialogue, the dancers narrate the heroic story of Nyapa, a selfless mortal fisherman, depicted by a masked character with hair made from the wool of the wild sheep known as ‘raruk’. After fighting and defeating an evil tantric sent by Nyaro — the despotic king, Nyapa receives the hand of a goddess as reward. Commonly performed on the second day of Losar, or the Tibetan New Year, the underlying message behind the Aji Lhamu dance is the triumph of good over evil. A land with close cultural ties to Tibet, the spiritual atmosphere in the home of the Monpa tribe has been shaped by its rich history. Buddhists by faith, the Monpas profess the virtues of non-violence, generosity, discipline, and honesty in every aspect of their living, even embedding their spiritual teachings in
