TitleBeh, Thangbi Mani: 2nd Day of Festival [Wide shot]
Additional title: Martial Dance
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 726A
TopicsDance -- BhutanFolk dancing -- BhutanDance -- Religious aspects -- BuddhismRites & ceremonies -- BhutanMartial arts -- Religious aspectsFestivals -- BhutanDzongs -- Bhutan -- Bumthang (District)Bumthang (Bhutan : District)Ritual and ceremonial dancing -- Bhutan
GenresFilmed danceFilmed performances
NotesAdditional physical form: For close shot version, see: *MGZIDF 726B.Performers: There are only eight dancers who perform all the dances during the three days of the entire festival.Content: Prior to this cham are three minutes of preparation with dancers for the Thangbi Mewang (Fire Ceremony) which took place outside the temple grounds.Venue: Videotaped in performance in the front courtyard of the Thangbi Lhakhang/Lhendrup Chhoeling Monastery (raised platform outside the courtyard - giving an angled view down across the other diagonal to camera c - facing due west), in Bumthang, on Sept. 18, 2005.Acquisition: Gift; Core of Culture. NN-PDBiographical/historical: The Thangbi festival held at Thangbi Lhakhang was founded in 1470 by the fourth Zhamarpa of the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. Located in the north of Choekkhor valley, it takes about 30 minutes walk from the road through the fields of buckwheat to reach the Temple. A small village festival held annually after the harvest of Potato and buckwheat to be thankful for the good harvest. It is also the time to celebrate and to pray that all sentient beings are blessed by invoking the deities through the ritual dances that are performed.Biographical/historical: The fourth Zhamar Rinpoche of the Karmapa School came to Bumthang from Tibet in the 15th Century in order to establish a monastery and in 1470 he founded Thangbi Lhakhang, located in the middle of a wide fertile plateau overlooking the river. Following a quarrel with Pema Lingpa, Zhamar Rinpoche had to leave Thangbi. The iron curtain hanging in the entrance is said to have been forged by Pema Lingpa himself, who took over the monastery.Biographical/historical: Thangbi Mewang is held for four days, from the 13th to the 16th days of the 8th Bhutanese month.
Physical DescriptionBorn digitalExtent: 1 video file (ca. 3 min.) : sound, color
DescriptionThe 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 of Bhutan. All evil spirits are vanquished....Beware!!!! (these last words are shouted as a war-cry).
Type of ResourceMoving image
LanguagesDzongkha
IdentifiersNYPL catalog ID (B-number): b19800773Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 782497e0-e378-0130-11fc-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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