PANG LHABSOL Festival | 18 Sept,2024 | Pemayangtse Monastery

Pang Lhabsol is celebrated to offer respect and homage to the third highest mountain, Mount Kanchenjunga. Pang means 'to witness' and apart from paying homage it also commemorates the Treaty of brotherhood among Lepchas and Bhutias. It signifies the unity of the Sikkimese.
Mount Kanchenjunga is also the highest mountain in India. It is considered as the guardian deity of Sikkim and it is said that the Sikkimese invoke God on this day on behalf of the entire country. The festival is considered very auspicious and happens in between August and September.
Chador Namgyal, the third Chogyal of Sikkim, introduced the “Pangtoed” dance and dedicated it to Kanchenjunga as a war deity. However, the actual origin of the festival is said to be the blood-brotherhood pact between the Lepcha Bonthing, ThekungTek, and Khye-Bumsa, the ancestor of the Namgyal royal family. Pang Lhabsol combines masked dance with warrior dance. There are resplendent costumes and colorful masks, and the choreography is spectacular. Khangchendzonga itself is represented by a dancer wearing a red mask mounted with five human skulls, on top of which are mounted flags.Yabdu, Khangchendzonga’s Supreme Commander, wears a black mask, while the warriors who accompany them are attired in the traditional Sikkimese battle dress, complete with helmets, swords & shields. The dramatic entry of Mahakala, the protector of the dharma, or faith, is one of the highlights of the dance. It is Mahakala who commands Khangchendzonga and Yabdu to defend the faith and bring peace and prosperity to Sikkim. While this mystical festival is celebrated across Sikkim at different locations and monasteries, an extravagant carnival is staged on the grounds of the Tsuklakhang Monastery in Gangtok. Both tourists and locals including Bhutias, Lepchas & Nepalis take part in the festivities with great enthusiasm showcasing the vibes of communal harmony in the state.

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Blessed 🎉🎉

[@Purpleberry-v2y]

Beautifully captured 🙏

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Please bless us Gods 😢