DANCE
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.
Black
Hat (Kali topi) Dance: On
Lossoong, the Sikkimese New Year Day, Black Hat (kali topi) Dance demonstrating
the triumph of good over evil is demonstrated. This masked dance is
also performed by male dancers mostly the Lamas. The dance revives the old story
which narrates that about twelve centuries ago King Land-Darma was slain for
suppressing Buddhism in Tibet. The king was slain by a Lama wearing a fantastic
black robe lined with white and riding a white horse blackened with soot .
Other
dances are 'Bara Singha Dance (the Stag dance) and Kankal Dance (the Skeleton Dance) and folk dances like, the Limbus celebrating a good harvest.
There are some soft rhythm dances too in which women can participate. The
Tamang (Dampu Dance )and Maruni dances (Nepali Dance) are such in which a couple
wavering lighted tapers on their open palms participate. The
Limbus perform the Dhol Dance after harvesting their paddy
crop. Lepcha
people also perform a group dance after harvests. The Lepcha folk
dances are quite bristle and Gay. The Sikkimese dances find their roots in
the traditional culture seasonal cycles of this fabled Himalayan state.
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