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The naked dance

The naked dance called tercham in Bhutan is perceived as spiritual expositions of one in Buddhism. This dance is performed with the belief that it could dispel misfortunes and negative residues upon witnessing or participating as a dancer. Among several dances in the country, tercham is unique mask dance which is performed in only in three selective places of the country, it is performed in Nabji-korphu in Trongsa, Sakteng in Trashigang, and Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang.
Though tercham’s origin is not clearly revealed, it is believed to be introduced by the great saint Guru Padmasamvawa to beseech the local deities and garner the attention of demons who impeded the constructions of monasteries. A source also depicts that tercham was reintroduced only during the time of treasure discoverer Terton Dorji Lingpa in Nabji-Korphu and Jambay Lhakhang.
Today tercham is integrated as a unique culture of the country. The dancers are picked from the volunteer mob, and they are enlisted with complete secret. Why do they do this? This is because the dancers have to obviously show their whole naked body to all the spectators. And the dancers are considered special because they have to adhere to the strict discipline such as abstaining from sexual intercourses, taking bath in incense mixed water, and receiving auspicious words from their teacher.
Taking those facts into an account, tercham seems precious for the society and its people. However, when the focus is given too much on culture and belief, one should never forget what consequences are apparently emerging. It does not mean that this mask dance is discouraged but while performing this dance anywhere, its sacredness should be maintained without creating disharmony in the society.
Today, it seems like men of a certain community who have interest in participating in this mask dance are discouraged. Deliberately or not, the dancers are teased and receive mockery from friends or relatives. For example, in an institution, a dancer received so many assumptions and descriptions of his whole body parts and becomes a pot of embarrassment. Another reason which would disvalue the sacredness of tercham is by the use of cameras or video-filming by the spectators though they are informed prior to the actual show. Every spectator should be aware of all those consequences. And similarly who fails to prohibit from using cameras becomes the spot of everyone’s punch or curse.
We cannot exist without knowing who we were and are. We know about ourselves only by flipping back the pages of our historical aspects. And culture defines who we are. Therefore, in order to eliminate the emergence of all those consequences along with the existence of such unique Bhutanese definitions, the authorities in concern should be strictly overseeing all those conducts.

Published on November 17, 2018 Kuensel (MySay). 

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