Kagyad Dance

Athi ti dewa bhawa(Guest is God,so you cannot stop  even if he is standing in a wrong place)

Distribution of Sundi(sacred thread)

Phodang "Karma Thubten Tashi ChoKhorling" Monastery

Opposite of Monastery Monks of Phodong Monastery Phodang Monastery(Karma Thubten Tashi Chokhorling) is a majorKagyupa Sect Monastery. The gonpa is located about38 kilometers from Gangtok on the way This Monastery was actually founded by the fourthKing Gyurmed Namgyalbut unfortunately, he passed away in 1734 i.e. two years after the demise of the 12th Karmapa Lama. However, the Lamas with a support oflaities completed the Monastery in 1740 A.D.

In the course of time, an earthquake damaged the old structure and had to be dismantled. The Lamas rebuilt a new Monastery it in 1977 which was bigger in size than the previous Monastery with financial assistance from the Government in addition to their own contribution. During the course of reconstruction, the experts of Delhi National Museum Institute extracted the old fresco paintings before  the old structure was dismantled . North Sikkim. These painting are now being preserved by the department for restoration in the new Monastery building. This gonpa came into international limelight through the writings of the famous French explorer Alexander David Neel who spent some years here learning Buddhism in the begining of 1912 under the guidance of the third Lachen Gomchen whom she accepted as her Root Teacher. She practiced meditation in a cave near the vicinity of this gonpa. She was patronized by Chogyal Sidkyong Tulku who also gifted her a Buddha Statue which was returned to this Gonpa after her death in 1969. Some of her photos can be seen in the first floor of the Gonpa. Since the Phodangmonastery is one of the important places of tourist‘s interest in North Sikkim, department of Tourism had further taken up the funding of the remaining works of the monastery which includes the restoration of old fresco paintings. The main festival is an annual mask dance fair in winter corresponding to the month of December to January. Source: http://sikkimeccl.gov.in/History/Monasteries/North/PhodangMonastery.aspx

Kagyad Dance

Kagyad Dance is a dance performed by Buddhist Monk  in many monasteries of sikkim as a part of Lossong Festival.This dance is performed in the 28th and 29th of 10 month tibetan calender which usually falls in the last week of december. This dance symbolize the destruction of evil spirit of previous year and welcome the good spirit for the coming year.

Costume of lamas is full of colour with gaily painted maskes, they dance to the rythem of resounding drums  jumping and swing the ceremonial swords in their hand.They dance in formation and there is geometrical  figure  drawn in the ground to help them dance in formation.This kagyad dance enacts various theme from the Buddhist Mythology and culminates with the burning of effigy made of flour,wood and paper.Before burning this effigy it is kept in the centre of ground where monks performed dance,there devotees pray and put coin in there.They believe that  by putting coin or currency  in the effigy they are throwing all the bed luck for the coming new year.

In  some of the rural areas of Sikkim,Kagyad dance(They called Gumpa Cham) is the only annual  festival  of that area ,so businessman from nearby town bring their item in the Cham. They sells jackets,Household item,pearls,toys, and many other  items which villagers love to do shopping. Local  people also put their food stal  outside the Gumpa Complex,so you can always try new local menu  at reasonable price.In day time devotees who come from far of place to see dance   just sit outside Gumpa in the ground   for whole day and at the night time they just enjoy the night life with  chang(local beverage)  in the nearby deera(Food Stall) .In some of the place  especially in the rural areas ,they even play cards in the food stal in  the night time but i am afraid they won't allow stranger to play with them.

On the 30th day of 10th month tibetan calender,Rinpochee give blessing to all the devotees and monks.They even distribute sung di(Sacred thread),chiri (prasad ) and thi (holy water) and devotees offer their offering to Monastery as a token of thanks.