Why in News? 

The Kagyed Dance Festival, recently celebrated at Tsuklakhang Palace in Sikkim, is a vibrant Buddhist tradition symbolizing the triumph over evil and ushering in peace and prosperity for the new year. 

Kagyed Dance Festival: Key Points 

Festival Details 

• Celebrated annually in Sikkim on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar (December in the English calendar). 
• Dedicated to eight tantric deities known as Kagyed. 

Celebrations 

• Held in monasteries, especially Old Rumtek Monastery, Phodong Monastery, and Tshuklakhang Palace. 
• Includes lamas performing traditional dances, singing songs, and offering prayers to ward off evil spirits and invoke blessings of health and fortune. 

Dance Highlights 

• Known as Kagyed Dance or Chaam, unique to Sikkim. 
• Performed two days before Loosong festival. 
• Features monks in ceremonial attire with swords and masks, dancing to rhythmic drums and horns. 
• Depicts tales from Buddhist mythology, particularly stories of Guru Padmasambhava and his powers. 

Symbolism 

• Represents the triumph of good over evil. 
• Witnessing the dance is believed to bring blessings of health and wealth. 
• Concludes with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood, and paper. 

Cultural Significance 

• Masks portraying humans, deities, and animals narrate Buddhist myths. 
• Variants of this dance are performed during different festivals, enriching Sikkim’s cultural heritage. 

Related Ceremonies 

• Includes Bhoomi Puja (Chandi Puja) and Sakewa Silior dances, symbolizing harmony with nature and imitating the sounds and movements of birds, animals, and natural elements. 
• Highlights the unique charm and traditions of the Buddhist community.