Hemis Tsechu Dance (Hemis Monastery)

Understand

Where Hemis Tsechu Dance (Hemis Monastery) comes from

The Hemis Tsechu is the central Cham mask-dance of the Hemis monastery of Ladakh, performed at the Hemis Tsechu festival in June (the central celebration of the Hemis monastery, one of the principal monasteries of Ladakh). The dance is associated with the worship of the protector deities of the Hemis tradition and is one of the most distinctive regional traditions of Ladakh. The form is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the state and at the Hemis Tsechu festival.

How it's practiced

The Hemis Tsechu dance is performed by monks of the Hemis monastery in a circle at the central courtyard of the monastery or at the open ground of the festival. The monks wear the elaborate mask of the protector deities and the embroidered silk costume of the Tibetan tradition. The dance is vigorous, with the small warrior-steps of the Cham vocabulary. Music is the long horn, the large cymbals and the small cymbals of the monastery. Costume is the elaborate Tibetan silk costume with the painted mask. Performances are at the central courtyard of the Hemis monastery and at the cultural programmes of the state.