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| Monks performing with liturgical music |
Kagyed
Chaam
is a Sikkimese Dance performed on the 28th and 29th day
of the 10th Month of the Tibetan calendar which generally falls in
the last week of December. The word Chaam in Tibetan corresponds to a dance
performed by various artists. This dance is performed in Sikkim symbolizing the
destruction of the evil forces and hoping for peace and prosperity to flourish
in every Sikkimese home. The dancers of this enormously admired Chaam
are always monks who are accomplished in liturgical music and chanting. The solemn
nature of the dance is interspersed with comic relief provided by the jesters.
Kagyed dances enact various themes from the Buddhist mythology and culminate
with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and paper. During monarchy,
Sikkim used to celebrate this dance as a national event. One can notice the Kagyed
Chaam
celebration of monarchical Sikkim in the visuals of much awaited documentary of
Satyajit Ray.
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