With spooky skeleton masks, elaborate silk robes, and peculiar movements, the Tibetan Cham dance is a dramatic Buddhist ritual that captivates both local Tibetans and global travelers.

So, what is Tibetan Cham dance for? What are its symbolic meanings behind it? Who performs it and where are the best places and times to experience this intriguing and sacred Buddhist dance in Tibet?

In this travel guide, we will uncover it all, including its mysteries, symbols, costumes, and festival highlights. Join us to dive into the timeless charm of Tibetan Cham Dance with us now and plan your Tibet tour accordingly!

What Is the Tibetan Cham Dance? What Is Cham Dance for?

Tibetan Cham Dance is a series of sacred religious dances, where masked Tibetan monks wear elaborate and colorful robes and wield props like swords, vajras, and drums to ward off evil spirits and bring blessings to the audience and Tibetan communities.

As opposed to a performance for “merry-making”, Tibetan Cham Dance is a solemn ritual dance of the Vajrayana School of Buddhism. Its origin dates back to the 7th century when Buddhism first spread to Tibet from India and inland China. It is the Guru Rinpoche (Indian Buddhist master) who creatively blended the shamanist rituals of Bon (Tibet’s native religion) with the masked dances of Indian yogic traditions. Learn the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

This creative move led to a time-honored tradition of Cham Dance (jumping or leaping in Tibetan) that mainly aims to drive away evil spirits and ward off negative forces. The first-ever recorded Cham Dance in Tibet was staged at the ceremony honoring the founding of the Samye Monastery, the first Tibetan Monastery, in Shannan Prefecture.

The masked Tibetan monks perform the Tibetan Cham Dance in Tibet.

Tibetan Cham Dance is normally performed once a year during important Tibetan festivals. However, the exact date of Cham Dance performances varies amid different Tibetan monasteries. So, it’s better to email us first to confirm the exact date before planning your visits.

What Are the Costumes and Masks Used in Tibetan Cham Dance and Symbolic Meanings?

Tibetan Cham Dance Masks are one of the most striking highlights of the Cham Dance. They are two to four times bigger than a real person’s head and often feature hideous and frightening faces, representing diverse bloodthirsty protective deities, and the wrathful forms of Buddhas and spirits.

Take the blue protective deity mask (Vajrapani) for example, it has three bulging eyes, fanged teeth, and wears a tiara of skulls. Besides, the iconic skeleton masks symbolize powerful protective deities “Citipati” who guard the sacred sky burial sites and oversee restless spirits, graveyard demons, and wandering souls. Learn the top 9 Tibetan Buddhist demons.

The iconic skeleton masks of Tibetan Cham Dance.

Though the fierce expressions on these Tibetan Cham Dance masks seem intimidating, they present positive forces and are worn to overcome evil and protect Tibetans from evil spirits, bad fortune, and disasters.

In addition, Tibetan monks dress themselves in long, flowing robes in vibrant colors like red, yellow, and blue, often adorned with intricate patterns. These colors are more than decorative and represent elements of Tibetan Buddhist teachings.

For example, the yellow robe symbolizes enlightenment, and blue signifies the vast sky or wisdom. The robes create a dramatic effect as the dancers move, enhancing the mystical aura of the Tibetan Cham Dance.

The Tibetan monks dressed in colorful robes during the Cham Dance.

Apart from the wrathful Cham dance masks and extravagant robes, Tibetan monks also carry holy items in their hands.

Take swords and daggers for example, they are used to cut through ignorance and slash at evil spirits; vajras, the ritual scepters, are wielded to show the truth of enlightenment; drums and bells are used to create rhythmic beats and they symbolize the sound of the Dharma (Buddhist teachings) spreading far and wide.

How Is a Tibetan Cham Dance Performed? Performed by Trained Tibetan Monks

Tibetan Cham Dance is normally held in the courtyard or square inside a Tibetan monastery. Before the Cham Dance, Tibetan monks would chant sacred prayers and perform a symbolic ritual of offering.

As the Cham Dance begins, the air fills with the resonating sounds of drums, cymbals, and the haunting blast of long horns. Then, a monk-led procession comes to the center stage, including Black-Hat Vajra Masters, diverse protective deities, spirits, and skeletal figures. They circle the stage in an orderly fashion by dancing to rhythmic musical beats, displaying the various forms and symbols of Buddhist teachings.

Later, the masked Tibetan monks will perform the ghostly dance individually or in groups at a slow pace. Some of the dances tell the Buddhist stories of "Feeding a Tiger with One’s Body" and "Cutting Flesh to Save a Dove," emphasizing compassion and generosity. A distinctive feature of Tibetan Cham Dance is throughout the dance, there is only the dance and the sounds of drums, cymbals, and long horns without vocals.

Local Tibetans watching the intriguing Tibetan Cham Dance in Tibet.

Besides, between the Cham Dance performances, two funny characters, Po (a grandfather) and Mo (a grandmother), come out to make everyone laugh. They wear traditional Tibetan clothes and act out silly scenes using funny movements and gestures. Their playful antics keep the crowd smiling and having a great time!

The finale is both thrilling and symbolic. It features a ritual to drive away evil and offer blessings and prosperity for everyone.

Top 4 Places to Watch Tibetan Cham Dance: Samye Monastery, Tsurphu Monastery, Tashilunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery

As the birthplace of Tibetan Cham Dance, Samye Monastery, the first Tibetan Monastery in Shannan Prefecture is one of the best places to witness the Cham Dance. Samye Monastery is around a 1hr 43min drive from Lhasa.

The Tibetan Cham Dance in Samye Monastery.

Every year, on the 10th, and 11th day of January and from the 15th to 17th days of May in the Tibetan calendar, monks from Samye Monastery and local Tibetans gather on rooftops to gaze at the solemn Tibetan Cham Dance. The highlight of the Samye Cham Dance is that you will see the eight special forms of Guru Rinpoche.

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Travel from Lhasa to Tsedang to enjoy Tibetan Cham Dance in Samye Monastery.

73km west of Lhasa lies the Tsurphu Monastery. It is a prestigious Kagyu monastery where the living Buddha reincarnation system originated. As a tradition, from the ninth to the 11th day in the Tibetan calendar, Tibetan Cham dance will be performed and culminate with the unfolding of Tibetan Thangka.

Masked monks perform Tibetan Cham Dance in Tsurphu Monastery.

Local Tibetans gather at Tsurphu Monastery with their homemade Tibetan food and butter tea, sitting on the ground around the central courtyard as they patiently wait for the Cham Dance. By around 8:30 a.m., monks wearing vibrant costumes and masks appear one by one, performing sacred and ghostly dances to the rhythmic beats of drums, cymbals, and long horns.

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Explore heavenly Namtso Lake and stop by Tsurphu Monastery to enjoy Tibetan Cham Dance.

Tashilunpo Monastery is the largest Gelug Monastery in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet, and home to Tibet Everest Base Camp. Each year, from the 14th to the 16th day of May in the Tibetan calendar, Tashilhunpo Monastery comes alive with three days of vibrant celebrations, featuring a grand unveiling of a giant Thangka at dawn and captivating Tibetan Cham dances.

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Watch unfolding of Tibetan Thangka and Tashilunpo Monastery's Cham Dance.

Apart from Tashilunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery, known for its distinctive red, dark grey, and white walls and precious library of gold Buddhist scriptures, is another off-the-beath place in Shigatse to enjoy Tibetan Cham Dance.

The traditional Tibetan Cham Dance in Sakya Monastery.

Every year, Sakya Monastery holds two dharma assemblies in July and November of the Tibetan calendar. During these events, masked monks will perform traditional Cham dances and make intricate sand mandalas. These sacred rituals are meant to drive away evil spirits, bring good luck, and pray for peace and happiness for all beings.

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Combine Tibet EBC tour with Tibetan Cham Dance in your Tibet journey.

Kind Reminder: Tibetan Cham Dances are often performed once a year during major Tibetan festivals. As the exact dates may vary each year and in different monasteries, feel free to email us to confirm it before planning your visit.

Etiquettes and Taboos When Visiting Tibet Cham Dance

While it may appear entertaining to foreign visitors, the Tibetan Cham Dance is a solemn and sacred ritual. Here are some practical tips and taboos to keep in mind when watching a Tibetan Cham Dance.

Dress modestly: When attending a Tibetan Cham Dance, wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees to show respect for the holy ritual dance.
Don’t Touch Sacred Items: Avoid touching Cham Dance masks, costumes, and other ritual objects used in the dance.
Never Interrupt the Cham Dance: Never step into the Cham Dance area and keep your voice low during the performance.
Arrive Early: To secure an ideal spot to watch Tibetan Cham Dance, you’d better arrive ahead of time and bring a mat and your snacks, and sit beside locals to enjoy the ghostly dance.
Ask Before Taking Photos: Always seek permission before photographing locals or sacred objects. If you are unsure of something, it’s better to consult your local guide for advice.

Apart from Tibetan Cham Dance, You Can Also See It in Bhutan: Tsechu Festival

Apart from the Tibetan Cham Dance in Tibet, since Tibet and Bhutan both follow Tibetan Buddhism (with Bhutan mostly practicing the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism), you can also enjoy Cham Dance in Bhutan, which is known as Tsechu Festival, if you plan to visit Tibet and Bhutan on one trip.

The Thimphu Tsechu (Sept/Oct) in Trashi Chhoe Dzong and Paro Tsechu (Feb/March) in Paro Dzong are two of the best times and places to enjoy the dramatic Tibetan Cham Dance in Bhutan. You will see large crowds of locals coming for the Cham Dance and the highlight ends with the unveiling of the giant Thangka at dawn alongside vibrant Cham dances.

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Don't miss out on the dramatic Tibetan Cham Dance in Bhutan as well.

As a local Tibetan travel agency, with offices in Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Chengdu, we can offer you custom Tibetan Cham Dance tours in both Tibet and Bhutan, with one-stop service for processing travel permits, local pick-ups, border transfers, extensive quality local hotel choices, local experts, local guide and popular local eateries and attentive customer service and more. So, you can immerse yourself in watching the mysterious Tibetan Cham Dance.

Conclusion

Tibetan Cham Dance is a sacred ritual dance performed by Tibetan monks to symbolize the victory of good over evil, honor deities, and bless the audience. Watching a Cham Dance feels like stepping into a sacred Buddhist story, where every detail has a purpose, and every movement carries a message. It’s truly a feast for both the eyes and the soul! If you have more questions about Tibetan Cham Dance and Tibet travel, don’t hesitate to email us for free and expert travel solutions. Cheers!