Cham (masked monastery dance)
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Slow, solemn masked dances performed by monks in monastery courtyards at festivals such as Hemis Tsechu.
RitualWhere: Ladakh, at monasteries such as Hemis, Thiksey, Lamayuru and PhyangOccasion: Monastery festivals, including Hemis Tsechu in summer and winter festivals such as Thiksey Gustor
| Performed by | Lamas (Buddhist monks) |
|---|---|
| Costume | Rich silk brocade robes and large painted masks of protector deities, animals and skeletons |
| Music and instruments | Long horns (dungchen), drums, cymbals and oboe-like gyaling, with chanting |
How it is performed
- Monks prepare through prayer, and the masks and costumes are brought out of the monastery store.
- Dancers enter the courtyard in a set order and move in slow, measured steps and turns around a central pole or flag.
- Each masked figure represents a deity or character, and the dances follow ritual texts rather than improvisation.
- At some festivals an effigy representing evil is ritually destroyed at the end.
Significance
Cham is a form of prayer and teaching: it shows the victory of good over evil and the triumph of the Buddhist teachings. At Hemis the festival honours Guru Padmasambhava.