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Unlike other places, Laddakh has a traditional marriage custom in which the bride comes to the groom’s house for the marriage. Dance, accompanied by specific songs, is performed when the bride is being brought to the groom’s house. The dancers are called Neyopa. They wear distinctive traditional dresses with equally distinctive and fascinating jewellery. The leader of the group called Neokkpun has to be an expert vocalist with a wide-ranging repertoire of folk songs, especially those sung during the different stages of the marriage.
The accompanying musicians usually belong to the Mon community. The musical instruments are : Surnai, a double-reeded wind instrument similar to Shehnai, and Damama a pair of bowl shaped drum much like the Nagada of North India. In olden days the Damamas were carried on the back of a yak.