A three-day workshop on Sowa Rigpa medical heritage and medicinal plants of Arunachal Pradesh began at Zomkhang Hall in Tawang on Friday. The workshop is being organized by the National Institute of Sowa Rigpa, Leh, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with the Tawang Foundation. Sowa Rigpa, known as the “science of healing” and often referred to as Amchi medicine, is a centuries-old traditional medicine system with deep roots in Arunachal Pradesh and the wider Himalayan region.
It is a holistic system aimed at maintaining physical, emotional, and spiritual balance, heavily influenced by Ayurveda and Buddhist philosophy. The inaugural program was graced by Advocate Maling Gombu, Chairman of APKVIB, as the Chief Guest, and Leki Gombu, ZPC Tawang, as Guest of Honor, while Tawang DC Namgyal Angmo and Geshi Dhondup Tsering, former Abbot of GRL Monastery, attended as Special Guests. The workshop brought together enthusiastic participants, including traditional medicine practitioners from Leh and Tawang districts, to share knowledge and experiences on the rich heritage of Sowa Rigpa and the medicinal plants of the region.
In his inaugural address, Advocate Maling Gombu highlighted that with the recognition of Sowa Rigpa under the Indian system of medicine, there is great scope for expanding this traditional knowledge for healing and treatment of various ailments. The three-day program aims to promote awareness, knowledge exchange, and preservation of the traditional medical practices of the Himalayan region.
