Gangjong Doeghar

Gangjong Doeghar is a Tibetan folk music and dance institute based in Kalimpong, India.

The Gangjong Doeghar Performing Arts Group was formed in Kalimpong in the 1990s, growing out of the earlier Tibetan Opera Association. Kalimpong lies at the Himalayan foothills of northern West Bengal in India. The group aims to keep Tibetan folk music and dance alive and provides young people the opportunity to socialise and develop through musical achievements.

Income for the group is derived from sponsorships and donations received from audience members. This income is generally distributed 40% to the artists and 60% to cover costumes, shoes, travel and other expenses. 

In 2008, the Australian Himalayan Foundation generously offered offered to assist the group with its general operating expenses. They will contribute A$ 3,500 per year for a three year period. 

In 2005 and 2006, the Australian Tibetan Society assisted the group with two amounts of A$3,000 towards general running expenses.  ATS has also provided a professional recording microphone to record the music and songs at a cost of A$1,300.

In 2005 ATS sponsored the travel and accommodation expenses of five of the troupe to come to Australia to perform at the Society's 25th Anniversary Celebrations at the Paddington Town Hall in Sydney. 

For several years the group has been meeting and practising in a large room in a private home.  The home is in a residential part of Kalimpong producing an ongoing noise problem with the neighbours.  Attempts have been made to sound-insulate the venue, but complete insulation is not really practicable.

With a donation already received from an individual donor the Australian Tibetan Society is looking to purchase a simple, but adequate, building to give the group a new venue and practice space in a non-residential part of Kalimpong.  This could be one of the many old ware-houses around Kalimpong surviving from the days when the town was on a busy caravan route from Tibet.

Our next mission is to provide them with quality instruments to practise and perform on. 

New instruments would cost approximately:

* Xylophones: A$ 350 each

* Fiddles: A $150 each

* Lutes: A$ 150 each.

A$ 4,000 would allow the group to treble the number of its instruments allowing more students to receive tuition. If you would like to make a contribution towards new instruments for the group, you can send a donation to the Australian Tibetan Society, PO Box 347 Killara NSW 2071.  A receipt will be sent to you.  Any donations received in addition to the need for instruments will be used to help the group in other 

For more information, download the 'Gangjong Doeghar' project sheet in the Downloads section. 

 

Image below: Tibetan Deer Dance by Gangjong Doeghar