Cham Dance Festival Featured in
Cham dance is an important traditional and religious form of art and performance. The performance includes a story, characters, music, and dancing.
The Cham dance Festival is organized and held in temples and monasteries. Almost all of them have a Cham group and make special costumes, ornamentation, masks, and musical instruments. These items are treasured in the temples. Before using them Cham dancers have to pass through several religious rituals.
When a dancer wears a mask and a costume, even before the performance, he has to identify himself with a part completely. Everything matters, body movements, gestures, and facial expressions. Acting like real deities is a must as long as you are in costume, not to tease the gods.
One of the most colourful and attractive Cham Dance Festival can be found in the Tsurphu Monastery. Located at an altitude of 4,300 m, this unique place draws tens of thousands to celebrate the Tsurphu Cham Dance Festival. It is usually held on the 10th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan Calendar. Though it has a religious plot it is also very entertaining. Local people come here to worship Buddha, receive blessings at the monastery, and to appreciate the performance of Cham dancers.
