NGONPA- a tail of Tibetan masks
NGONPA- a tail of Tibetan masks from Priya Pakad
NGONPA- a tail of Tibetan masks

As a part of craft research, I, along with two of my other friends, visited Dharamshala and Mc.Leod Ganj, India and stumbled upon the making of traditional Tibetan masks known as 'Ngonpa'. The masks are a part of 'Ache Lhamo', a Tibetan folk opera which is a combination of songs, dances and chants and is a medium of telling moral tales based on Buddhist philosophy. Ngonpa plays the character of 'the hunter' as well performs a purifying dance before the commencement of the Ache Lhamo.
The great experience of researching, learning and documenting this craft, not only introduced us to the amazing culture of Tibet, but also made us empathise with the plight of the Tibetans and their homeland.

The document can be viewed on the given external link.

View Website
The beautiful snow clad peaks of the Himalayas can be seen from the town of Mc.Leodganj. The town is a hot spot for tourists from India and abroad, famous for the Tibetan settlement and the influence of their culture.
Mc. Leodganj is famous for monasteries, especially the residence, monastery, and temple of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
The streets of Mc. Leodganj are filled with markets famous for Tibetan religious artifacts, textiles, food. Among them the most famous are Thangkas, which are either painted or appliqued on fabric. The scale, intricacy and craftsmanship of these Thangkas are just mesmerizing.
A scale model showcasing the Ache Lhamo in process at The Museum of Tibetan folk performing arts, at TIPA in Mc. Leodganj.
The statue of Ngonpa Rignga in the Museum of Tibetan folk performing arts, at TIPA, in Mc. Leodganj.
Us in action with Mr. Samten, who makes Ngonpa and other Tibetan masks as a part of the costume team of TIPA- Tibetan Institute of Tibetan Arts. TIPA, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, is an institute set up by the Tibetan exile government responsible for preserving and promoting the Tibet’s unique tradition of performing arts. A big thanks to them for being so warm and welcoming to us.
The cover page of my research document. The document can be viewed on the given link - http://issuu.com/priyapakad/docs/craft_training_doc_print
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NGONPA- a tail of Tibetan masks

As a part of craft research, I, along with two of my other friends, visited Dharamshala and Mc.Leod Ganj, India and stumbled upon the making of traditional Tibetan masks known as 'Ngonpa'. The masks are a part of 'Ache Lhamo', a Tibetan folk opera which is a combination of songs, dances and chants and is a medium of telling moral tales based on Buddhist philosophy. Ngonpa plays the character of 'the hunter' as well performs a purifying dance before the commencement of the Ache Lhamo.
The great experience of researching, learning and documenting this craft, not only introduced us to the amazing culture of Tibet, but also made us empathise with the plight of the Tibetans and their homeland.

The document can be viewed on the given external link.

View Website
Priya Pakad
Textile Designer Bengaluru, India