LHA: The Living Spirit
In 2026, Gaurav Gupta begins a deeper journey into the living artistic traditions of India’s indigenous and tribal communities, spotlighting practices that continue to survive through ritual, craftsmanship, and oral inheritance across generations.
For our Ladakh chapter, we spotlighted two enduring cultural forms of the region - the traditional folk dances Shondol and Shonta Lima, alongside the ceremonial rhythms of the Daman drum.
With roots tracing back over 500 years through Ladakh’s monastic, royal, and village traditions, Shondol and Shonta Lima remain among the Himalayan region’s surviving folk dance forms today. Passed down orally across generations, the dances preserve community memory through synchronized formations, measured footwork, and collective rhythm. Shondol in particular has long been associated with royal processions and ceremonial gatherings across Ladakh.
The performance was accompanied by the Daman drum, one of Ladakh’s oldest ceremonial instruments, played during festivals and communal gatherings for over 400 years.
Leading the performance was senior Daman drummer Baba Napo (Tsewang Phunchok), who has practiced the form for over 15 years, inheriting the tradition from his father, himself regarded as one of the region’s respected Daman players. In Ladakh, these musical lineages survive through memory and lived practice.
At Gaurav Gupta, the GG Tribes initiative is not about documentation alone. It is about creating space for living traditions, performers, and communities whose cultural practices continue to shape the artistic identity of India beyond museums and archives.
Creative Director: Gaurav Gupta
Art Direction: Sandeep Gill
Jewellery: Carbon Jewelery
Videography: Sarthak
Production: MMC World
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