Memba people

{{Short description|People of Arunachal Pradesh, India}}

{{other uses|Memba (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}

{{Infobox ethnic group

| group = Memba|

| image =

| image_caption =

| total = 5,000

| total_ref =

| total_year = 2011 census

| popplace = {{flag|India}} (Arunachal Pradesh)

| languages = Memba

| religions = Buddhism

| related =

| footnotes =

}}

The Memba are a people of Arunachal Pradesh. The Memba population is currently around four to five thousand. Local genealogies suggested that they came from Tibet and settled in the region several centuries ago.{{cite book|title=History & Culture of the Adis|author=Tai Nyori|publisher=Omsons Publications|year=1993|isbn=81-7117-105-2|page=53}}

The Membas follow Nyingmapa Tibetan Buddhism and have their own script, Hikor, which is derived from the Tibetan script.[https://web.archive.org/web/20060517183927/http://tribaltransitions.soas.ac.uk/publications/sblackburn1.pdf Colonial contact in the 'hidden land' (Pg 4)] In every village, there is a small Gompa presided by a Buddhist Lama. As devout Buddhists, they follow all the intricate details of rituals of Buddhist puja, hoisting at least a Buddhist prayer flag or a string of small Buddhist prayer flags in front of every household. Festivals that are celebrated by the Memba include Losar and Choskar.