You are here : Neville Bulsara Photography >> Photo Galleries >> Ladakh Photo Gallery >> One Image
Ladakh Photo Gallery
India : Drum Dancer at the Chaams -  Phyang Gompa, Ladakh
The Chaams / Chams are highly ritualistic, mystic dances performed by monks of the branch of buddhism belonging to the Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism) school of thought. During the chaams, the monks - over a period from anything between one day to two weeks - enact several historical events from the life of the Buddha, the proponents of his teachings, as well as the "guardian deities". These dances are considered to have a deep spiritual impact on both the performers as well as those witnessing them.
The chaams consist of several performances and are characterised by vigorous, rythhmic movements of the performers who are dressed in colorful silk brocade and wear elaborate masks representing the guardian deities of the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon.
The Sknamcham (Drum Dance) is one of the first dances to be performed during the chaams at Phyang. The elaborate detail that goes into the making of the silk brocades worn by the monks is clearly visible in this image.
Previous Image | Next Image

Back to the Ladakh Photo Gallery
Photographic Workshops, Photo Tours & Expeditions in India
Photographic Workshops, Tours & Expeditions to India for the Discerning Photographer
All photographs & original text copyright Neville Bulsara, 2010. All rights reserved.
Site best viewed with IE 5+ and above at a resolution of 1024 x 768 or higher.