Phag Cham of Joenla Ugyen Gatshel.
The most significance and opening mask dance of Joenla Ugyen Gatshel Lakhang, Radhi, Tashigang Dzongkhag is Phag cham (ཕག་འཆམ) or the Boar Dance. It is said that Phag cham was composed in the 15th century by Terton Rigzin Pema Lingpa was looking for a suitable place to build a monastery. It is said that, Terton Rigdzin Pema Lingpa had a vision, where Yidam Dorji Phagmo (ཡི་དམ་རྡོ་རྗེ་ཕག་མོ) or Vajravarahi, the board headed deity performed the dance and told him that he should learn this dance and perform it during the consecration ceremony of the temple. Pema Lingpa remembered the steps of the dance even after he woke up from the visionary dream. He wrote down the steps and made his followers learn the dance. To mark this auspicious occasion, Terton Rigdzin Pema Lingpa introduced the Boar Dance as the first one in the series of mask dances performed during the consecration ceremony of the monastery.
This sacred dance later came to be known as Phagcham. The foundation of the Tamzhing lhakhang is also said to have been dug by a boar, which is why the Phala Choepa festival was named. It is said that the pig borrowed deep into the soil and unearthed for the construction of temple.
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| PHAG CHAM AT JOENLA UGYEN GATSHEL |
