Mask Dance of Sikkim (Chhaam)

Understand

Where Mask Dance of Sikkim (Chhaam) comes from

The Chhaam is the central Buddhist-mask dance tradition of the Sikkimese monasteries, performed at the Losar and the Tsechu festivals of the Rumtek, the Pemayangtse, the Tashing and the other Sikkimese monasteries. The dance is the Sikkimese and Tibetan form of the Cham dance tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, performed by the monks of the monastery in honour of the protector deities (the Mahakala, the Yamantaka, the Mahakali and others). The dance is one of the most distinctive regional traditions of Sikkim and is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the state and at the monastery festivals.

How it's practiced

The Chhaam is performed by monks of the Sikkimese monastery in a circle at the central courtyard of the monastery or at the open ground of the festival. The monks wear elaborate masks of the protector deities (the Mahakala, the Yamantaka, the Mahakali) and the embroidered silk costume of the Tibetan tradition. The dance is vigorous, with the small warrior-steps of the Cham vocabulary and the symbolic movements of the deities' weapons (the sword, the drum, the phurba). Music is the long horn (the rong-chen), 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 monastery and at the cultural programmes of the state.