Torgya, also known as Tawang-Torgya, is an annual festival that is exclusively held inTawang Monastery,Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is held according to theBuddhist calendar days of 28th to 30th ofDawachukchipa, which corresponds to 10 to 12 January of theGregorian calendar, and is a Monpa celebration. The objective of the festival is to ward off any kind of external aggression and to protect people from natural disasters.[1][2]
In the three-day festival, costumed dances are very popular and held in the courtyard of the monastery with the objective of removing evil spirits and usher all round prosperity and happiness to the people in the ensuing year. The popular dances performed with artists donning colorful costumes and masks are: thePha Chan and theLosjker Chungiye, the latter is performed by the monks of the monastery. Each dance represents a myth and costumes and masks represent animal forms such as cows, tigers, sheep, monkeys and so forth.[1]
The first day's festival is called Torgya and involves worship of the image created specially for the occasion. The creation of the images starts 16 days prior to the festival. The image is created to a height of 3 feet (0.91 m) with a width of 2 feet (0.61 m), and is exclusively crafted by 14 lamas of the monastery. Right from day one of making the image till it is completed, scriptures are recited by the monks of the monastery to the accompaniment of beating of drums by another group of lamas. The ingredients used for making the image areghee,barley,milk andmolasses, and it is done in honour of Lama Tsongkapa. The quantity of barley used in making the image will be more than other ingredients. The image is named asTorma. Concurrent with the making of the image, dry bamboo leaves are gathered from distant places and formed into a mound, in the shape of a temple, which is known as "Mechang". The Head Lama (Khambu) of the monastery burns theMechang in the presence of other Lamas.[2]
At the same time, the image "Torma" is brought out in a procession to the location of the mound. It is carried by Lamas of the monastery, known asArpo, wearing bells around their waist. Two other Lamas also accompany theTorma, one wearing a male mask made ofyak horn and the other wearing a female mask, also made of yak horn. These two Lamas are called theChoige yap-yum ('yap' meaning "male" and 'yum' meaning "female"); this is supposed to signify the male and female servants of Lama Tsongkapa. The procession of theTorma is accompanied by other Lamas carrying swords, beating drums and cymbals. On reaching the location of theMechang, theTorma is ritually touched by the Head Lama, and then consumed into the flaming fire of theMechang. The practice of touching theTorma by the Head Lama is called theSangonna-Torgya. On completion of this religious practice, the Head Lama returns to the Monastery accompanied by other Lamas.[2]
The ritual on the final day of the festival is known as "Wang" performed at the monastery. On this occasion, sweets calledTseril are prepared by mixing barley and sugar or molasses and then solidifying it, which is then made into small balls. Prayers are then offered by the Head Lama, which is followed by distribution of theTseril. Along with the sweets, local beer calledTse-Chang is also served in a bowl made of human skull. The oblation ofTse-Chang is distributed in a very small quantity, of say a few drops to the devotees. After this ritual, the Head Lama gives blessings, called theTse-Boom. He blesses all the assembled devotees by touching their heads; during this process the other lamas tie small strips of cloth, of half to one inch width, of white, red or blue or other colors, on the wrist of devotees. Concurrently, strips of yellow cloth are tied by a senior Lama around the neck of all lamas and Anis (nuns), as a sign of blessings for happiness and long life.[2]