Dranyen Chham

Dranyen Cham (Dance with Guitar)

Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, reincarnation of Mahaguru Padmasambhava and Avaloketesvara (Buddha as the god of compassion) came to Bhutan as prophesied by Guru Rinpoche. Having defeated all the enemies, he ruled the people of Bhutan with love and justice. He built many dzongs and temples and established monk-bodies where the monk could practice the Buddhist Tripitaka (The Three Classes of Learning;1. Yinaya 2. Sutra. 3. Adhidharma and meditations). With the result of such religious deeds, the people enjoyed happiness not only in this life but also in the next life. Therefore, this dance was performed in a cheerful state of mind in order to celebrate the establishment and diffusion of the Drukpa School in Bhutan.

Costume: Elaborate and heavy woolen clothes, traditional felt boots, long black skirts, brown coat, sword and a circular headdress. One dancer holds a guitar called Dranyen.