TitleRaksha Gocham, Paro Tsechu, Day Four: Outside the Dzong [Wide shot]
Additional title: Dance of the Raksha within the curtain
NamesCore of Culture (Organization) (Producer)Core of Culture (Organization) (Donor)
CollectionBhutan Dance Project, Core of Culture
Dates / OriginDate Created: 2005
Library locationsJerome Robbins Dance DivisionShelf locator: *MGZIDF 817A
TopicsDance -- BhutanFolk dancing -- BhutanDance -- Religious aspects -- BuddhismRites & ceremonies -- BhutanMasks -- BhutanDzongs -- Bhutan -- Paro (District)Paro (Bhutan : District)Festivals -- BhutanRitual and ceremonial dancing -- BhutanMask dances -- Bhutan
GenresFilmed danceFilmed performances
NotesAdditional physical form: For close shot version, see: *MGZIDF 817B.Content: Paro Tsechu Programme Day Four: (Outside the Dzong): Shinjey Yab Yum - Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort ; Shacham - Dance of the Four Stags ; Rakusha Mangcham - Dance of the Judgement of the Dead ; Dramitse Nga Cham - The Drum Dance of Dramitse ; (NB: not all the dances were filmed on this day).Venue: Videotaped in performance at the outer courtyard, Paro Dzong, in Paro, Bhutan (looking back along the opposite diagonal from the upper level), on Mar. 24, 2005.Acquisition: Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PDBiographical/historical: The annual Paro Tshechu is held from the 9th till the 15th of the 2nd month every year. It was first introduced by Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye in 1687, while the tshechu was initially held in the dzong, after the reconstruction in 1906 it was held outside. The highlight of the tshechu is the Thongdol which is believed to deliver from all sins. The Thongdol that was saved from the fire of 1906 was built by Lama Nawang Rabgay and is considered one of the oldest in Bhutan. It was slightly renovated by the government about twenty years ago. The material for the Thongdol was brought from Lhasa in Tibet.Biographical/historical: The history of Ringpung Dzong (Palace of the heap of jewels) or Paro Dzong: The construction of the Paro Dzong began in 1644 on the order of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of modern day Bhutan. Unlike most of the other dzongs in Bhutan, it survived the massive 1897 earthquake although it was damaged by fire in 1906.
Physical DescriptionBorn digitalExtent: 1 video file (ca. 10 min.) : sound, color
DescriptionRakusha Gocham takes place at first inside the curtain - so this camera only shows the dancer after he s exited from inside. In this version he is alone - and there is no accompanying monkey figure.
Paro Tshechu is held from the 11th to 15th day of the 2nd month of the Bhutanese calendar every year. Actually, the Tshechu begins with a chamjug or rehearsal day on the 10th day of the 2nd month, and ends on the 16th day of the 2nd month with a day s dances at Dzongdrakha monastery above Bondey.
Type of ResourceMoving image
IdentifiersNYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19887292Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 188a48d0-e7f0-0130-553d-3c075448cc4b
Copyright NoticeCore of Culture
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