Membas are a tribal population of 4000 centered near the Siang river in the West Siang and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh in India. They are a subgroup of the Tibetan people, and speak the Tshangla language. Local genealogies suggest that they came from Eastern Bhutan and Tibet and settled in the region several centuries back. The Membas are agriculturists and grow cash crops in the terraced fields. Boiled rice & millet flour is their staple diet.

The Membas follow Nyingmapa Tibetan Buddhism. 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.