Workshop on Sowa-Rigpa Medical Heritage and Medicinal Plants Begins in Tawang
Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) : The National Institute of Sowa-Rigpa (NISR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, in collaboration with The Tawang Foundation, has organised a three-day workshop titled “Sowa-Rigpa Medical Heritage and Medicinal Plants of Arunachal Pradesh.” The workshop is being held at Zomkhang Hall in Tawang from March 13 to 15, 2026.
The programme commenced with a traditional lamp-lighting ceremony inaugurated by the Chief Guest, Maling Gombu, Chairman of the Arunachal Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board (APKVIB), Government of Arunachal Pradesh, in the presence of several distinguished guests.
Tsering Thakchoe Drungtso delivered the welcome and keynote address, highlighting the importance of preserving and promoting the ancient Sowa-Rigpa medical tradition. This was followed by remarks from Special Guest Namgyal Angmo, Deputy Commissioner of Tawang District, and Guest of Honour Leki Gombu.
During their addresses, the speakers emphasized the importance of traditional medicine in strengthening public healthcare and underscored the vital role of medicinal plants in the practice of the Sowa-Rigpa system across Tawang and the wider Himalayan region.
Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo expressed the district administration’s full support for promoting and developing the Sowa-Rigpa system in the region. She encouraged students and practitioners to undertake further research and deepen their study of the traditional medical system in the modern context.
Chief Guest Maling Gombu expressed his gratitude to Padma Gurmet for organising the workshop in Tawang. He reaffirmed his commitment to preserving and promoting Sowa-Rigpa in Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states. He also appreciated the institute for establishing a Sowa-Rigpa Health Care Clinic in the region and expressed hope for further collaborations in Tawang district.
The inaugural ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks by Tenzing Samcho.
The three-day workshop is expected to attract more than 100 participants, including residents from Lungla, Tawang and nearby villages, monks and nuns from various monasteries, students, as well as Sowa-Rigpa practitioners and doctors.
During the technical sessions, experts will deliver lectures on various aspects of the Sowa-Rigpa medical heritage and the medicinal plants found in Arunachal Pradesh, aiming to strengthen awareness and research on traditional healthcare practices in the Himalayan region.
