Tungam Chham

Tungam (Dance of the Terrifying Deities)

This dance is performed with the aim of delivering the beings by showing them the Zangtopelri, paradise of Guru Rinpoche. Here Guru Rinpoche takes the form of Dorji Drakpo “The Fierce Thunderbolt”.

Costume: Beautiful brocade dresses, boots and terrifying masks.

This spectacular and dramatic dance has deep symbolic meaning, namely that a sacrificial muder is performed. First, the dancers representing the gods try to enclose the bad spirits in a circle and in a box. Once this is done, the main god who holds the phurba, the ritual dagger, kills them. He thus saves the world from them and he delivers them into salvation at the same time. The man and the asuras (demi-gods) who becomes enemies of Buddhism, the source of happiness and benefit, do not have the chance to be converted by peaceful means. Hence, Ugyen Rinpoche, who is the emanation of all Buddhas, took the form of Dorji Drakpo. By slaying these enemies, he liberated them into the superior sphere of bliss. By performing such an incredible feat, which resulted in the happiness of human world, he helped increase faith in non-illusionary acts.