Choe-kor: A blessing for abundance (An analytical study)

Abstract

The Tawang district and West Kameng are home to the Monpas, one of the largest tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. All tribal cultures, including the Monpas, are characterized by dances, songs, folktales, art and crafts, music and festivals. The Monpas enjoy major festivals like Losar, Torgya, Choe-kor etc. Choe-kor is a traditional Buddhist festival celebrated in the seventh month of lunar calendar at community level commemorating the year’s first harvest. This ceremony has significance since it portrays the rituals carried out for the protection and prosperity of the agricultural yields, which is one of the main occupations of the Monpas. It is performed with an intention for everyone's prosperity, supernatural protection of the community and to ward off evil spirits rather than just a plentiful harvest. Nowadays, it is found that with modernization, globalization and occupational shift, decreased priority is given to such traditions and practices. The purpose of the paper is to study the rituals involved in Choe-kor and to examine its importance in the lives of the Monpas and to discuss strategies for preserving it.