The Cham Dance is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Tibetan Buddhism and is performed during Buddhist festivals. I documented the dance of the Tibetan monks in Bokar Monastery during the Losar festival. They live in Mirik, West Bengal.
Cham Dance performances often take place in monasteries and are meant to bring blessings and peace upon the audience
Photo: Copyright: Debmalya Das
Cham Dance performances often take place in monasteries and are meant to bring blessings and peace upon the audience
Photo: Copyright: Debmalya Das
Losar is the Tibetan New Year, which falls in January and continues till February. In my photos, the monks are rejoicing by performing Gutor Cham, where they depict the battle between good and evil and the ritualised destruction of evil. The monks also worship their Tibetan gods and goddesses through instrumental music.