KARSHA KOMPA-CHAM(DANCE FESTIVAL) ZANSKAR REGION-LADAKH
Karsha Monastery or Karsha Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in the Padum Valley of the Zanskar region of the union territory of Ladakh in northern India. The largest Monastery in Zanskar, Karsha Gompa is also the most important one in the region The Doda River flows past the monastery from its source at the Drang Drung Glacier of the Pensi La (14,500 feet 4,400 m).
The monastery is under the control of the younger brother of the Dalai Lama.
he village Karsha where the monastery is situated is also the ending point of the popular Chadar Trek in Zanskar. One of the major attractions of Karsha Monastery is the annual celebration of the festival of Karsha Gustor on the 26th to the 29th day of the 11th Tibetan month, which is usually in January.Another festival called
“the Karsha Gustor Festival” is celebrated in JULY month It is a festival of masked dances and spiritual chants that lasts for two days. The festival is held on the 27th and 28th day of the 6th Tibetan month which falls in July. The exact dates may vary depending on the lunar calendar
The masked dances in Karsha Gustor Festival are also known as Cham dances. They are performed by the monks of the monastery who wear masks that represent the wrathful deities and protectors of Buddhism.
The dances are believed to drive out evil forces and bring peace and prosperity. The dances last for two to three hours and have different narratives and themes. Some of the masks depict animals such as sheep, horse and goat, which are worshipped during the festival. The masks are made of paper mache, clay, cloth and paint.
