Yama Dharmaraja Cham
The majority of Cham dances feature Yama as the main or primary dancer. The number of supporting dancers can vary but usually there are 14 - 17 dancers that circle in the main part of the dance. In the video below, taken at Sengeshong Magotsang, Yama is behind the zor area at the center of the courtyard; Ksetrapala is in the foreground being characteristically flamboyant and energetic.
The majority of Cham dances feature Yama as the main or primary dancer. The number of supporting dancers can vary but usually there are 14 - 17 dancers that circle in the main part of the dance. In the video below, taken at Sengeshong Magotsang, Yama is behind the zor area at the center of the courtyard; Ksetrapala is in the foreground being characteristically flamboyant and energetic.
The most exciting part of most Yama cham dances is when Ksetrapala applies all of his energy to the zor dong and administers deadly cutting blows to the lingka. In this video, note that Dramze is providing authoritative overwatch.
At the conclusion of the Yama cham, the zor is burned and the captured evils are sent into the heavens. The iron pot to the right of the scene contains oil and is reminiscent of an earlier Cham custom. The fire under this pot is used to light the straw hut into which the zor will be thrown by the black masked Dorje Lopon.
