Lama Dances of Sikkim | Documentaries
Channel: Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre
Date: 2022-07-14

National Award winning documentary film in the year 2006.
"𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢𝐦"
Direction & Cinematography: Manash Bhowmick
Cinematography: Sunil Prasad
Editing: Parameswar Pusti & Narayan Biswas
Music: Subrata Bhattacharjee
Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata brings you Lama dances of Sikkim. The Lama dances or Chham is a masked dance performed by Buddhist lamas (monks) during special occasions like the Pang Lhabsol festival. During the Pang Lhabsol festival the Sikkimese remind Mount Khanchendzonga of the promise made to the 8th century Saint Guru Padmasambhava to protect Sikkim forever. The prayers and readings associated with the festival are conducted inside the monastery while the dancers outside symbolically depict the meaning of the prayers to the devotees. The Pang Lhabsol Chham is performed by lay Buddhist youths and not by the lamas. The dancers wear colourful robes and special headgear which carry the darchang or banner. During the dance the red-faced aspect of the Khangchendzonga and the Mahakala, the upholder of the dharma are welcomed after which the warrior dance is performed.