Arunachal’s Monpa musician sings his way to people’s hearts

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A video showing a musician playing a instrument called dramyin and singing a traditional Monpa song was shared by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has gone viral.</p>
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<strong>Video:</strong></p>
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Today near the Bhutan border at Bongleng village in Tawang district.<br />
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An artiste from Monpa Institute of Performing Arts (MIPA) presents a melodious Monpa song, playing the ‘dramyin’, a traditional musical instrument. <a href="https://twitter.com/incredibleindia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@incredibleindia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MDoNER_India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MDoNER_India</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MinOfCultureGoI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MinOfCultureGoI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/tourismgoi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tourismgoi</a> <a href="https://t.co/cbFHKfU7rr">pic.twitter.com/cbFHKfU7rr</a></p>
— Pema Khandu པདྨ་མཁའ་འགྲོ་། (@PemaKhanduBJP) <a href="https://twitter.com/PemaKhanduBJP/status/1491693280815243264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The musician who is from the Monpa Institute of Performing Arts is seen standing in Bongleng village of Tawang district which is close to Bhutan border.</p>
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Considered as a major tribe, the Monpa of Arunachal Pradesh are believed to be the only nomadic tribe in Northeast India and have a close affinity with the Sharchops of Bhutan.</p>
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Interestingly, the Chief Minister is a Monpa himself. Other well-known Monpas include Ngawang Tashi Bapu who was nominated for the Grammy in 2006 in the Traditional World Music category.</p>
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Dramyin, the popular string instrument played by the artist is a traditional Himalayan folk music lute with six strings. It is used by the Drukpa Buddhist culture and society in Bhutan, and also in Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Himalayan West Bengal.</p>
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The Monpa community’s traditional three-day festival Torgya – welcoming a healthy and prosperous New Year – was recently concluded in the State.</p>