Khang-chen-dzod-nga Dance
The two day festival of dance performed
during the worship of snowy range of Kanchanjunga (Khang-chen-dzod-nga)
is a dance peculiar to Sikkim alone. It is celebrated in September.
The third Chogyal of Sikkim, Chador Namgyal (1686-1716) introduced
this dance about two and a half centuries ago as a result of a vision.
Kanchendzonga is portrayed as a fiery red - countenanced
deity with a crown of five skulls, riding the mythical snow lion
and holding aloft the banner of victory. Esoteric masks, flashing
silks, opulent brocades and embroidered boots are the costumes of
the dancers. The dancers are all male. In this warrior Dance the
warlike pomp and panoply, the war deity resplendent the flaming
robes, the fantastic Snow lion, comprise the essence of the dance.
This mask dance is termed as Singhi Dance i.e. Lion Dance
by Nepalese. They visualise the ferocious god of Kanchanjunga riding
over a lion and hence call this dance as Singhi Dance. |
