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The Origin of Religious Dance
Although various songs and music that are traditionally popular in the country bears a limited source of its origin, the masked dances have been inspired by great masters and saints whose names are revered by people of the country. Mostly performed to subdue demons and evil spirits that haunted places where people lived, it was then restored to dances by outstanding Buddhist saints in the later times. They are believed to be rare and powerful form of magical and tantric arts.
The origin of religious dances can be traced back as early as the 8th century AD when Guru Rinpochoe, a great Buddhist teacher, who visited Bhutan, used these tantric and magical dances to subdue evil spirits and demons. He chased and eliminated demons while building the Samye Monastery who prevented construction back in Tibet.
Sidhu Raja was an Indian prince who sought refuge in Bhutan and then reigned over a small kingdom in Bumthang for a short period of time. During his rule, he lost his son in a battle. Overwhelmed with grief, all religious statues and temples throughout his kingdom were ordered to be destructed, because he felt abandoned by his local divinities. But this conduct angered the divinities and misfortune engulfed his entire kingdom. The Raja himself became really sick.
Guru Rinpochoe was thus summoned to Bhutan to save the dying king. The divinities were subjugated performing wrathful dances using his magical powers and were transformed into protectors of the Buddhist doctrine. It was the beginning of traditional ritual dancing in Bhutan. The following centuries has the record of Dorji Lingpa and Pema Lingpa who also used religious dances to subdue and drive away demons.
The mask dances performed today, during Tsechu festivals, are but those magical dances, enriched later by Buddhist masters to give visual aspects of religious teachings and help simple people to know and understand them. It was only during the 17th century when the country was unified under Drukpa Ka-gyu that the dances were inventoried and classified. These dances are believed to ensure well-being and happiness of all living beings. This is why they still survive in most festivals.
Religious Musical Instruments
Religious dances are always accompanied by certain characteristic instruments; normally played by monks. During festivals, each religious dance begins with a fanfare of religious horns which are long telescopic deep sounding metal instrument known as dungchen.
The dances themselves are accompanied by a double-sided skin drum, the nga and by a pair of cymbals with central embossment, the relmo. These provide the rhythm for the steps and movements to the dancers. In addition, small drums with wooden handle and curved stick are carried individually by the dancers.
Dradu, a little drum with two half shells is used by the heroes who are part of the celestial entourage of Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche. They also use hand-held bells, the drilbu. Short metal horns known as the jaling is also played along with dungchen for some of the dances. This seven-holed instrument is played in pairs using a continuous breathing technique, thus producing a continuous sound.
BHUTAN FESTIVAL TOURS
Paro Festival Tour
Paro Domchen Festival Tour
Thimphu Festival Tour
Punakha Domchen Festival Tour
Trongsa Festival Tour
Wangdue Festival Tour
Jampay Lhakhang Drup
Jakar Festival Tour
Ura Yakchoe Festival Tour
Bumthang Thangbi Mani Festival Tour
Tashigang Festival Tour
Gom Kora Festival Tour
Chorten Kora Festival Tour
Chhukha Festival Tour
NOTE: Tour itineraries and descriptions for the Festival Tours in Bhutan are still under development. If you are interested in anyone of the festival tours and want to visit Bhutan during the chosen festival season, please contact us and we will be glad to forward you with a compitable tour itinerary.
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