Sant NaroNasjal, Zanskar - संत नारोनास्जल

Of the numerous Monastic Fairs and Festivals in Jammu, the Sant Naro Nasjal (Zanskar) holds special attraction because of the colourfully attired Lamas who perform the ceremony with a lot of enthusiasm. The Sant Naro Nasjal (Zanskar) is widely celebrated by the Monks of the Sant Naro Nasjal Monastery.

They celebrate this festival with an incredible amount of zeal and enthusiasm. The Lamas of the Sant Naro Nasjal Monastery perform the Black Hat Dance which symbolically stands for warding up the evil forces of nature. The lamas of the Sant Naro Nasjal (Zanskar) Monastery dress up in colorful attires and perform the Black Hat Dance. There are numerous stories that are integrally linked to the Black Hat Dance.

Numerous ancient Monasteries have become the identity of the Zanskar Region and Sant Naro Nasjal is one of them. Held in July or August Sant Naro Nasjal festival of the Lamas is accompanied by the performances by the Monks of the Sant Naro Nasjal Monastery.

The Black hat Dance performed by the monks is especially interesting because it consists of the evil and good forces in constant struggle with each other. In this dance drama the evil forces are eliminated and good forces restored. The evil force is symbolized by Yama and the good force is the (second incarnation of Lord Buddha) known as Padmasambhava. Zanskar is an unforgettable experience for the trekker because it is replete with all the trekking arrangements.

The landscape of the Zanskar region holds special attraction for people because of its exclusive terrain. The valleys of the Zanskar region are vast and filled with grassland. With scattered population the Zanskar region stands amidst vast natural glory. Abundant water supply makes life easy for both people and the livestock.

History of the Black Hat Dance

According to the legend, the Indian saint by the name Padmasambhava had been once invited to Tibet. It was the king Trisong Detsen who invited him. There he was called by the king in order to spread the message of Buddha. Padmasambhava used basic dorje or thunderbolt steps in order to eliminate the ground obstacles. In the 9th century a king known as Langdarma wanted to eradicate Buddhism from his estate.

One day while he was studying the inscriptions on the Do Rim, he saw a Black Hat Dancer who approached him. He was unnoticed by the king and was shot dead by him. From the long sleeve of his cloak, the Black Hat dancer withdrew his bow and arrow and assassinated the king.

In the 17th century the Fifth Dalai Lama actually re established the tradition of performance of the Black Hat Dance in which the Monks perform a masked dance.

Time for the celebration Festivals

The Sant Naro Nasjal Festival is usually held in the months of July - August.

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