| Khang-chen-dzod-nga Dance
The two day festival of dance performed during the worship of
snowy range of Kanchanjunga (Khang-chen-dzod-nga) is a dance peculiar
to Sikkim alone. It is celebrated in September. The third Chogyal
of Sikkim, Chador Namgyal (1686-1716) introduced this dance about
two and a half centuries ago as a result of a vision.
Kanchendzonga is portrayed as a fiery red - countenanced
deity with a crown of five skulls, riding the mythical snow lion and holding
aloft the banner of victory. Esoteric masks, flashing silks, opulent brocades
and embroidered boots are the costumes of the dancers. The dancers are
all male. In this warrior Dance the warlike pomp and panoply, the war
deity resplendent the flaming robes, the fantastic Snow lion, comprise
the essence of the dance. This mask dance is termed as Singhi Dance i.e.
Lion Dance by Nepalese. They visualise the ferocious god of Kanchanjunga
riding over a lion and hence call this dance as Singhi Dance. |
