TitleYak Cham, Namkhai Ramnyen: 2nd Day of three-day Festival [Wide shot]
Additional title: Dance of the Yak
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 740A
TopicsDance -- BhutanFolk dancing -- BhutanDance -- Religious aspects -- BuddhismRites & ceremonies -- BhutanMasks -- BhutanFestivals -- BhutanDzongs -- Bhutan -- Bumthang (District)Bumthang (Bhutan : District)Ritual and ceremonial dancing -- BhutanAnimal dances -- BhutanMask dances -- Bhutan
GenresFilmed danceFilmed performances
NotesAdditional physical form: For close shot version, see: *MGZIDF 740B.Source note: 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.Content: 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.Venue: Videotaped in performance at the Namkha Lhakhang (facing Lhakhang along right diagonal - camera set up on outer wall at the corner), in Bumthang, on Dec. 11, 2005.Acquisition: Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PDBiographical/historical: 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.
Physical DescriptionBorn digitalExtent: 1 video file (ca. 3 min.) : sound, color
DescriptionA simple dance with several men inside the body of the Yak - the black skin of which is made of Yak-hair blanket. The Yak appears to pay obeisance to the focal point of the Abbot s chair inside the Lhakhang.
Type of ResourceMoving image
IdentifiersNYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19805788Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 1cf51b70-e378-0130-3a42-3c075448cc4b
Copyright NoticeCore of Culture
Rights StatementThis item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
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