SINGHI CHHAM DANCE
FOLK DANCES OF INDIA – SINGHI CHHAM
Singhi Chham Folk Dance is also known as Kanchendzonga Dance. It is a folk dance native to Sikkim Region. The word ‘Singhi Dance’ means the ‘Lion Dance’. This masked dance is performed during the worship of snowy range of Kanchenjunga. And People use this majestic dance as a way to display their cultural symbol.
Singhi Chham is performed exclusively by men. The dancers wear esoteric masks, flashing silks, opulent brocades and embroidered boots. Performed exclusively by the citizens of the state, it is held in the month of September. Chador Namgyal the third Chogyal of Sikkim, introduced this dance about two and a half centuries ago.
In this Singhi Chham dance form Kanchenjunga is portrayed as a fiery red faced deity with a crown of five skulls, riding the mythical snow-lion and holding aloft the banner of victory. The ‘snow-lion’ represents the cultural symbol of the state. It was decreed the guardian deity of the people of the state by Guru Padamsambhava.