SMT. TSERING DEMO THUNGON PRESERVES SHERDUKPEN WEAVING TRADITIONS By- Lobsang Tashi Thungon

Traditional art is preserved not merely through words, but through continuous practice in our day-to-day lives. The rich heritage and legacies of our forefathers have survived because of a few extraordinary individuals who dedicated their lives to keeping these traditions alive. Among such inspiring personalities is Smt. Tsering Demo Thungon, now 76 years old, who has been preserving the traditional weaving patterns of the Sherdukpen community since she was just 13 years old. Her dedication and hard work have played a major role in keeping the weaving traditions of Shergaon alive. She first passed this precious knowledge to her daughter and later to many active weavers of the village. Apart from weaving, she has also been actively preserving traditional Sherdukpen songs through her melodious voice. Till today, she has recorded more than 20 folk songs in the Sherdukpen dialect. She remains a living repository of many rare and unique traditional songs and deeply worries about their preservation for future generations. Smt. Tsering Demo Thungon has also represented Shergaon in several documentary films that received recognition and awards at the state level, bringing pride and visibility to the community’s cultural heritage. With great humility, she has one heartfelt request for the younger generation of Shergaon. She is willing to teach the art of weaving and traditional songs to anyone who truly wishes to learn, provided they come forward with sincerity and dedication. People like her are not only preserving traditions, they are preserving the soul and identity of an entire community.