Pang Lhabsol, a festival commemorating the conservation
of Mt. Kanchenjunga as
the guardian deity of the state, is unique to Sikkim. It has its
origin in the Lepcha people's belief that the mountain is their
place of origin. It is also believed that the festival has its roots
in Lhatsun Chenpo's (the
propagator of Buddhism in Sikkim) vision. It is said that while
meditating in a cave at Dzongri in west Sikkim, the mountain the
guardian deity of the state.
Subsequently,
Chador Namgyal, the
third Chogyal of Sikkim, introduced the "pangtoed" dance
and dedicated it to Kanchenjunga as a war deity. However, the actual
origin of the festival is said to be the blood-brotherhood pact
between the Lepcha bonthing, Thekung
Tek, and Khye-Bumsa,
the ancestor of the Namgyal royal family.
Pang Lhabsol combines masked dance with warrior dance, giving the
festival an inherent drama, which surpasses that found in other
Buddhist festivals. There
are resplendent costumes and colorful masks, and the choreography
is spectacular. Kanchenjunga itself is represented by a dancer wearing
a red mask mounted with five human skulls, on top of which are mounted
flags.
Yabdu,
Kanchenjunga's Supreme Commander, wears a black mask, while the
warriors who accompany them are attired in the traditional Sikkimese
battle dress, complete with helmets, swords and shields. The dramatic
entry of Mahakala, the
protector of the dharma, or faith, is one of the highlights of the
dance. It is Mahakala who commands Kanchenjunga and Yabdu to defend
the faith and bring peace and prosperity to Sikkim.
A
week prior to the dance, the lamas of Pemayangtse
monastery in west Sikkim, where the festival takes place, offer
prayers, invoking Dzonka
- the popular local name for Kanchenjunga - to protect the land
and look after the people. The festival of Pang Lhabsol is held
on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar. |