Shanag Ngacham

Displaying the Mahakala statue in the courtyard

_The Shanag Ngacham (Black Hat Dance with Drums) was performed as Venerable Tenga Rinpoche promised His Holiness Karmapa when he had visited His Holiness in Gyuto Monastery last year. Even though there was very little time to practise, through the blessings of His Holiness and the skillful means of Vajra Master Tenga Rinpoche, the Shanag Ngacham was performed in a very elaborate way on 18 February 2004. His Holiness asked his special representative, the Very Venerable Drubpon Rinpoche, from Dharamsala to attend and to make offerings of katags to all the dancers.

It was an extraordinary blessing to watch the dance, which was performed non-stop (as per the instructions), from 10:30 in the morning until 5:00 in the afternoon. Although the monks who participated in the dance partook of the tea and saffron colored rice and raisons (dësil) that were offered in the center of the courtyard throughout the dance, they took no other breaks for the entire period of the dance.

Mahakala, Mahakali and Dorje Legpa

His Holiness asked that some of the monks who participated in the dance go to Gyuto Monastery so he could evaluate their performance. Five of the monks went and participated in what could be called an examination. They stayed for a few days and danced every evening, after which His Holiness made comments and suggestions. The monks returned to Benchen with gifts and blessings from His Holiness.

Black Hat dance in the courtyard