- Additional Authors
- Description
- 1 digital video file (ca. 10 min.) : digital, stereo., H.264 file.
- Summary
- Lemah and Beh describe kinds of martial dances - often performed at tsechus and during certain rituals. The Lemah is a dance particularly associated with Punakha, and normally describes how the eight pazap groups are called to Punakha to take part in the celebrations remembering the famous victory over the Tibetan army under the Zhabdrung in 1639 - a memorial particularly associated with the Punakha Drubchen. Punakha was the seat of the Zhabdrung, and before the Punakha Drubchen could start all the Penlops (from Trongsa, Paro and Dagana) and Dzongpoens (Wangdue, Thimphu etc.) had to pay taxes (bulwa or byu) {see the scene in the Coming of the Zhabdrung, 2005}. The words sung in the Lemah dance contain a narration describing the whole story associated with the paying of these taxes and the other things associated with those times. It s rather like the Tam in Ngangbi Lhakhang, giving a description of those times. Each group singing Lemah will have a praise-song to their particular deities, for example the Bab Lemah (from Thimphu {Babesa}) talks of the deity from Semtokha - which is Legung Djarok Dongchen - the Raven-headed Mahakala. To paraphrase the words: It is an auspicious time here, and everything is as it should be. We have come to Punakha, together with our deity, the Raven-headed Mahakala from Semtokha to participate in the Drubchen. Last year we had a wonderful time at the Drubchen, and this year we will do the same, at this time of the auspicious waxing energies of the first part of the month. Extracted from Punakha Drubchen and Tsechu - Published by RAPA. All eight Lemah songs are reproduced (in Dzongkha) in this booklet. As in this picture, the Lamah singer points his bow and arrow to the four directions before he begins to sing. The Beh dances were introduced by the Zhabdrung after the victory over the Tibetan forces in 1639. They are much more martial in aspect, and more wrathful in their wording. Each of the eight Gewogs has its own Beh wording. To refer again to the Bab Gewog: When Mahakala becomes incensed with anger, he turns into the wrathful Raven-Headed Mahakala, and then he roars like a thunder-dragon; that is, when his shouting voice most protects the Buddhism of Bhutan. All evil spirits are vanquished....Beware!!!! (these last words are shouted as a war-cry). Extracted from Punakha Drubchen and Tsechu - Published by RAPA. All eight Beh songs are reproduced (in Dzongkha) in this booklet.
- Uniform Title
- Bhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture.
- Alternative Title
- Martial Dance. Namkhai Ramnyen: 2nd Day of three-day Festival [Close shot]
- Subjects
- Genre/Form
- Dance.
- Filmed dance.
- Filmed performances.
- Video.
- Note
- For wide shot version, see: *MGZIDF 737A.
- The young men of the village begin the ceremony with performances of martial dances - three dancers in turn.
- We only filmed the middle day of the three-day festival - and the dances were held in the Lhakhang courtyard as per our request. The previous day the dances had been held in a wider field some small distance from the lhakhang.
- Namkhai Ramnyen - Day Two (Dec. 11, 2005): Entry Procession ; Beh - Martial Dances ; Lhamo and Goen - Dance of Lhamo and Goen ; Yak Cham - Dance of the Yak ; Lhamo and Goen - Dance of Lhamo and Goen ; Yak Cham - Dance of the Yak ; Lhamo and Goen - Dance of Lhamo and Goen ; Yak Cham - Dance of the Yak. The dances were repeated three times during the day, and as far as we could understand this whole program was repeated each day for three days. There were also various Boedra and folk dances set amongst these two main dances.
- Access (note)
- Event (note)
- Videotaped in performance at the Namkha Lhakhang (facing Lhakhang along left diagonal - inside courtyard door), in Bumthang, on Dec. 11, 2005.
- Source (note)
- Biography (note)
- Namkha Lhakhang in Bumthang Tang (the Tang Valley of Bumthang) is the religious seat of Tshamph Namkha Samdrup, one of the most venerated lamas at that time (16th Century). While building this monastery, a devilish spirit living in the Black Lake of Karbang caused damage and harm to the construction and the workers. With his enormous skill and divine knowledge, the Lama changed himself into a yak and destroyed the Black Lake. As the lake could not remain there, it was believed to have migrated to what is now Khen Buli. Thereafter, as per the instructions of the Lama, the Yak dance is performed every year during the (Memorial Service for the) consecration ceremony of the Namkha Lhakhang on the 15th Day of the 10th Bhutanese lunar month.
- Call Number
- *MGZIDF 737B
- OCLC
- 839676948
- Title
Beh. Namkhai Ramnyen: 2nd Day of three-day Festival [Close shot] [electronic resource].
- Imprint
2005.
- Country of Producing Entity
Bhutan.
- Series
Bhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture.
- Access
Open.
- Event
Videotaped in performance at the Namkha Lhakhang (facing Lhakhang along left diagonal - inside courtyard door), in Bumthang, on Dec. 11, 2005.
- Biography
Namkha Lhakhang in Bumthang Tang (the Tang Valley of Bumthang) is the religious seat of Tshamph Namkha Samdrup, one of the most venerated lamas at that time (16th Century). While building this monastery, a devilish spirit living in the Black Lake of Karbang caused damage and harm to the construction and the workers. With his enormous skill and divine knowledge, the Lama changed himself into a yak and destroyed the Black Lake. As the lake could not remain there, it was believed to have migrated to what is now Khen Buli. Thereafter, as per the instructions of the Lama, the Yak dance is performed every year during the (Memorial Service for the) consecration ceremony of the Namkha Lhakhang on the 15th Day of the 10th Bhutanese lunar month.
- Source
Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PD
- Connect to:
- Local Subject
Ritual and ceremonial dancing -- Bhutan.
- Added Author
Core of Culture (Organization)
Core of Culture. Donor
- Research Call Number
*MGZIDF 737B