Monpa tribes constitutes of five percent of the total population of tribal communities throughout the whole Arunachal Pradesh.This Monpa tribe displays many common attributes.
Monpa tribes are said to be one of the primitive tribes of Tawang District and West Kameng District.Currently recognized ethnic groups in China.Most Monpas live in Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh,with a population of 50,000,centered in the district of Tawang and West Kameng.Around 25000 Monpas can be found in the district of Cuana in the Tibet Autonomous Region,where they are known as Menba.They also share very close affinity with the Sharchops of Bhutan.
Language:
The Monpas are sub-divided into six sub-groups because of their variations in their language. They are namely-
* Tawang Monpa,
* Dirang Monpa,
* Lish Monpa,
* Panchen Monpa,
* Bhut Monpa,
* Kalaktang Monpa.
Origin or History:
The origin of the Monpa tribe of Arunachal Pradesh has got a beautiful trade history behind it.Eminent anthropologists have penned down a lot of things abot the role Monpas in trade in pre-colonial and colonial era of Arunachal Pradesh state.As per their records,Monpas even proved to be really efficient in trade that Assam had with a foreign country.Within the Arunachal Pradesh also Monpas carry a trade exchanges of several products like butter,coat,shoes,carpets,blankets,masks and yak cap,salt and beetle nut with Sherdukpen tribal group.In lieu, they demand in exchange of cows,methun and animal-skins.According to few Anthropologist,to facilitate this trading relation with Assam has emphasized the role of trade fairs.
These trade fairs further deterred to a great extent due to the enactment of Inner-line regulations by forest regulators in Darrang frontiers of the Assam state.These provisions led Monpa of Tawang and East Kameng districts curb their motions sub Montana forest.In the year 1809,the fairs at Udalguri and Doimara in Assam clearly established the facts that animals and its various by products along with the forest based resources were the major items of trade that were to exchanged with finished products from other places.These fairs for trade showed a process of decline during the end part era of British period.
In the year 1901,tea industry gradually expanded in Doimara in Darrang district of Assam and salt was imported from outside. The development of land networking retards the demand of animals like donkeys and horses and British colonial government entered into direct foreign trade by making use of some legal provisions.
People & Religion:
The Monpa tribal people follow the characteristics with other people of Arunachal Pradesh as well as with many other tribes of mongoloid characters of adjacent north-eastern parts of Asia.They have also their own and unique system of the practices.
The Monpas are all ardent believers of Buddhist practices.Lord Buddha,the Dharma(righteousness) and the Sangha(order of monks) comprises of the Buddhist Trinity.These three sacred ideals of Buddhism are also hold in esteem and reverence by those Monpas.
Arts & Crafts:
The Monpas are reckoned for their artistic creations that include beautiful Tanka painting,carpet making,weaving and wood carving.They are adopt in making paper from sukso tree.
Festivals:
Several fests and festivals are celebrated by the Monpa people.Some of the major festivals of this community include Losar,Ajilamu,Choskar harvest and Torgya.During some of these festivls,the Monpa people perform pantemime dances including Ajilamu festival.The people go to the Tawang monastery during Losar festival.
Farms &Cultivation:
The Monpas practices generally shifting and terrace cultivation Among their major crops,barley,rice,maize,chili,wheat,tobacco,pumpkin,beans,pepper can be named.They also rear domestic animals like yaks,cows,fowl,pigs and sheep.They also grow apples,oranges,grapes,strawberry etc in a horticulture system.
Culture:
Another thing remarkable about the culture of the Monpas is,there has been an amalgamation of both non-violence and aspects of violence.Though they ardently have developed the trust on various axioms of non-violence,the actions that they follow are not at all matching.On the contrary,they follow the customs of animal sacrifices and also the utilities that they derive from these animal resources. Several studies that are being conducted in order to understand the wealth of fauna also emphasize the fact that the Monpas have wide faith in various superstition and magical powers which are being researched.Animals that are utilized both as food and other purposes are tiger,leopard,musk deer,birds etc.Tigers and leopards were mostly hunted for their skins.
Traditional costumes:
The Monpa men wear Tibetan Chugba.Some of the people also wear trousers and coats along with a skull cap.The shirts of the men folk are called Endi and it is worn in the Tibetan style.The short woolen trousers for men is called Kangnom and the full-length woolen trouser is known as Dhorna.The women of this community wear long length sleeveless chemise and warm jacket.They wear red coloured gown called Shingka.They also prefer to deck themselves with different types of ornaments of different materials.Rings,earrings,necklaces etc made of bamboo are someimes embellished with turquises and red beads.
Houses & Dwellings:
The Houses of the Monpas are constructed with wood and stones.Their floors are called plank floors and sometimes their doors and windows represent the art of excellent wood carving.Bamboo matting is used to make the roofs of their houses and it also keeps their room warm during the time of severe cold.Some houses also contain hearths and sitting platforms in the living room.
In the year 1901,tea industry gradually expanded in Doimara in Darrang district of Assam and salt was imported from outside. The development of land networking retards the demand of animals like donkeys and horses and British colonial government entered into direct foreign trade by making use of some legal provisions.
People & Religion:
The Monpa tribal people follow the characteristics with other people of Arunachal Pradesh as well as with many other tribes of mongoloid characters of adjacent north-eastern parts of Asia.They have also their own and unique system of the practices.
The Monpas are all ardent believers of Buddhist practices.Lord Buddha,the Dharma(righteousness) and the Sangha(order of monks) comprises of the Buddhist Trinity.These three sacred ideals of Buddhism are also hold in esteem and reverence by those Monpas.
Arts & Crafts:
The Monpas are reckoned for their artistic creations that include beautiful Tanka painting,carpet making,weaving and wood carving.They are adopt in making paper from sukso tree.
Festivals:
Several fests and festivals are celebrated by the Monpa people.Some of the major festivals of this community include Losar,Ajilamu,Choskar harvest and Torgya.During some of these festivls,the Monpa people perform pantemime dances including Ajilamu festival.The people go to the Tawang monastery during Losar festival.
Farms &Cultivation:
The Monpas practices generally shifting and terrace cultivation Among their major crops,barley,rice,maize,chili,wheat,tobacco,pumpkin,beans,pepper can be named.They also rear domestic animals like yaks,cows,fowl,pigs and sheep.They also grow apples,oranges,grapes,strawberry etc in a horticulture system.
Culture:
Another thing remarkable about the culture of the Monpas is,there has been an amalgamation of both non-violence and aspects of violence.Though they ardently have developed the trust on various axioms of non-violence,the actions that they follow are not at all matching.On the contrary,they follow the customs of animal sacrifices and also the utilities that they derive from these animal resources. Several studies that are being conducted in order to understand the wealth of fauna also emphasize the fact that the Monpas have wide faith in various superstition and magical powers which are being researched.Animals that are utilized both as food and other purposes are tiger,leopard,musk deer,birds etc.Tigers and leopards were mostly hunted for their skins.
Traditional costumes:
The Monpa men wear Tibetan Chugba.Some of the people also wear trousers and coats along with a skull cap.The shirts of the men folk are called Endi and it is worn in the Tibetan style.The short woolen trousers for men is called Kangnom and the full-length woolen trouser is known as Dhorna.The women of this community wear long length sleeveless chemise and warm jacket.They wear red coloured gown called Shingka.They also prefer to deck themselves with different types of ornaments of different materials.Rings,earrings,necklaces etc made of bamboo are someimes embellished with turquises and red beads.
Houses & Dwellings:
The Houses of the Monpas are constructed with wood and stones.Their floors are called plank floors and sometimes their doors and windows represent the art of excellent wood carving.Bamboo matting is used to make the roofs of their houses and it also keeps their room warm during the time of severe cold.Some houses also contain hearths and sitting platforms in the living room.
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