Sikkim's famed Pang Lhabsol festival underway, masked dances reverberate palace lawns

The Pang Lhabsol festival is celebrated across Sikkim in different monasteries today. The celebrations in the capital were held on the palace lawns, also called Tsuklakhang. The grand celebrations were marked by masked dances.

Three main dances were performed, an opening dance by young monks, the Pangtoed Cham or Victory Dance by masked laymen, and a final masked dance by monks dressed as Mt. Khangchendzonga in red and Yeshe Gonpu in blue. Devotees presented khadas (scarves) to both guardian deities.