The mask dance in Pedong. Picture by Reza Pradhan

Pedong, April 2: The three-day Tschechu Chham (mask dance) festival, an annual event being held for the last 200 years, ended here today.

The masked dance, organised by the Sangchen Dorjee Gumpa, has always been celebrated with much pomp and grandeur by all the communities in Pedong. Visitors from Gangtok and Darjeeling also come and join the local people in celebrations.

Sonam Dorjee, the secretary of the late Shabdung Nawang Jigme Rimpoche, of the Gumpa said: “Lots of people turn up for this festival irrespective of community. The festival actually covers four days as we hold the chamzuk (last rehearsal) before the actual event and a large number of people turn up to watch that.”

The Tschechu Chham is based on scriptural teachings. The dance is performed in Bhutan as part of death and cremation rituals as well as on joyous occasions. In Pedong, however, it is held at this time every year. The dance has spiritual significance in the life of people because it is believed that one who watches the dance has better prospects in the afterlife.

“This has been an annual event here since the gumpa was set up 200 years ago. Till a few years ago the dance used to be performed by local people, but for the last three years it has been performed by monks,” said Dorjee.

Dorjee was also of the view that performance of the dance by monks had added a new dimension to the event.

“Previously when the local people performed the dance, they often missed out on finer details. Though they were meticulous about the performance, the essence of the dance was missing. The monks who perform the dance these days, have been trained in Bodh Gaya. They are, therefore, able to bring out the finer nuances,” said Dorjee.

The dance which is also said to herald rains, has lost some of its shine with the death of Shabdung Nawang Jigme Rimpoche, a driving force behind the celebrations.