Mask Dance revival

• Focus areaCulture
• StatusPast projects

The village’s mask dances, particularly dedicated to Vajrakila deities and the protector deity Dragtsen Dorji Dradul, had not been performed since 1994. However, in 2014, the late Choje and his eldest son, Samten Yeshi, along with monks from Kheng, had briefly revived some of these dances during the 2014 Kangöl. Fortunately, this rare performance was documented by the Lodhen Foundation’s cultural team, led by Samten Yeshi himself, recorded diligently by Yeshi, who also worked for Druk Nyo Foundation later for a year. These video recordings proved invaluable in reconstructing the original dance sequences. Under the leadership of Umzey Kinley, the dance steps were initially reconstructed from the memory of a few elderly community members. These recollections were later refined and validated through the 2014 video recordings to maintain their authenticity. Likewise, the recorded footage of the rituals provided crucial guidance in editing the liturgical texts, ensuring accuracy in the performance of the ceremonies.