News & Announcement
Minister cum Area MLA attends Kagyed Cham at Lingthem Monastery
Mangan, December 18 (IPR): Minister cum Area MLA Mr Pintso Namgyal Lepcha attended the sacred Kagyed Cham (ritual masked dance) at Lingthem Rikzing Chopel Targelling Monastery in Dzongu today, where monks and devotees gathered in large numbers to witness the traditional ceremony.
Kagyed Cham is an important Vajrayana Buddhist ritual performed annually in monasteries across Sikkim. The dance is conducted by ordained monks adorned in elaborate masks and ceremonial attire, accompanied by ritual music and prayers. Each movement and costume symbolises the destruction of negative forces and the restoration of harmony, reflecting the victory of wisdom, compassion and righteousness over ignorance and evil.
During the visit, Minister Mr Pintso Namgyal Lepcha was welcomed by the Local Gumpa committee members, OSD Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department Mr Ugen Lepcha and Zilla and panchayat members of Lyangbar Linthem and Passingdang GPU.
He paid obeisance at the monastery, interacted with the monks and local devotees, and conveyed his best wishes for peace, prosperity and communal harmony. He appreciated the monastery authorities for preserving and promoting Sikkim’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage and acknowledged the role of such sacred traditions in strengthening social values and unity.
This annual event is celebrated to ward off evil influences and to introduce the various deities believed to be encountered after death, enabling devotees to recognise them during the intermediate state. The Kagyed Cham is observed statewide and continues to hold immense religious and cultural significance for the people of Sikkim.
Kagyed Cham is an important Vajrayana Buddhist ritual performed annually in monasteries across Sikkim. The dance is conducted by ordained monks adorned in elaborate masks and ceremonial attire, accompanied by ritual music and prayers. Each movement and costume symbolises the destruction of negative forces and the restoration of harmony, reflecting the victory of wisdom, compassion and righteousness over ignorance and evil.
During the visit, Minister Mr Pintso Namgyal Lepcha was welcomed by the Local Gumpa committee members, OSD Land Revenue & Disaster Management Department Mr Ugen Lepcha and Zilla and panchayat members of Lyangbar Linthem and Passingdang GPU.
He paid obeisance at the monastery, interacted with the monks and local devotees, and conveyed his best wishes for peace, prosperity and communal harmony. He appreciated the monastery authorities for preserving and promoting Sikkim’s rich spiritual and cultural heritage and acknowledged the role of such sacred traditions in strengthening social values and unity.
This annual event is celebrated to ward off evil influences and to introduce the various deities believed to be encountered after death, enabling devotees to recognise them during the intermediate state. The Kagyed Cham is observed statewide and continues to hold immense religious and cultural significance for the people of Sikkim.
