Snow Lion Dance (Singhi Chham, Ladakh)

Understand

Where Snow Lion Dance (Singhi Chham, Ladakh) comes from

The Singhi Chham is the snow-lion dance of the Ladakhi monastery, performed by the monks in the snow-lion costume (the white furry body-suit and the mask of the snow lion) at the monastery-courtyard festivals. The snow lion is the mythical guardian of the mountains and of the Tibetan-Buddhist tradition, and is the symbol of the Ladakhi royal tradition. The form is one of the documented regional traditions of Ladakh and is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the state and at the monastery festivals of Ladakh.

How it's practiced

The Singhi Chham is performed by monks of the Ladakhi community in the snow-lion costume (the white furry body-suit and the painted mask) at the central courtyard of the monastery or at the open ground of the festival. The men perform the warrior-dance of the snow lion in coordinated steps, with the small sword and the shield of the warrior tradition. Music is the long horn, the large cymbals and the small cymbals of the monastery. Costume is the snow-lion costume — the white furry body-suit with the embroidered border and the painted mask. Performances are at the central courtyard of the monastery and at the cultural programmes of the state.