Skip to main content

Gang-Su Ritual - Dah drum (Monpa Ritual Music to announce the Gang-Su ritual by playing the dah)

Monks of the Tawang monastery
Audio
Gang-Su Ritual - Dah drum (Monpa Ritual Music to announce the Gang-Su ritual by playing the dah)
The Gang-Su ritual is announced by the playing of musical instruments from the balcony of the gompa. One monk plays the huge dah on the balcony of the gompa’s second floor to invite the other monks for the ceremony. The Tantric Gang-Su ritual is conducted to protect the gods and goddesses, the monks, the monastery, and the dharma from any calamities. Gang-Su is also a tantric deity (divine mother) depicted in the gompa in a sexual union with Buddha. 'Dah' is a pole drum struck with a curved stick which is called 'dahkyupha' (also the name for the player in monpa). It is used in all ritual dances and also inside the gompa. The 'dah' keeps the rhythm and leads the village dance ensembles.