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Atsarai Darshey: Recitation of Atsara (clown)
  • Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
    Manage No EE00002064
    Country Bhutan
    ICH Domain Oral traditions and representations
    Address
    Tshechu, Mani, Rabney, Duechoe, Drub, Yakchoe and Mewang (Annual Mask Dance Festival) organized in Dzongs (Fortresses), Monasteries and Temples in Bhutan.
    Year of Designation 2016
Description Darshey is a traditional practice where a man holding a khadar (auspicious white scarf ) in his outstretched hands faces the seated crowd, and makes auspicious speeches at a ceremonial function, usually during religious and social occasions. (The origin of the tradition is attributed to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (1594-1651) when he introduced this practice during the consecration ceremony of Punakha Dzong in 1639.) The tradition, however, may vary slightly from village to village in the use of language and presentation such as making speeches decked with maxims or simply narratives. The worldly tradition of Darshey does not require to be sung like Gurma (Religious songs), Lu or Tsammo (Songs without choreographies) but is expressed more or less like a recitation. Darshey is usually performed during auspicious occasions. Atsara (masked clown) also makes similar speeches during Tshechus (Annual Mask Dance Festivals). Generally, ordinary people perceive Atsara as a comedian that appears during tshechus in the midst of mask dancers wearing a funny mask, usually holding a phallus and a rattle in his hands to entertain the audience. However, the word came from the Sanskrit term achāriya; a title attached to a great spiritual teacher, who can claim his place among the 84 Mahasiddhas, representing all those who have within one lifetime attained direct realisation of the Buddha’s teachings. Their appearance as clowns represents our ignorance through which we fail to see the ultimate truth. That is why our forefathers had regarded the senior atsaras as the embodiment of guardian deities and sublime beings. During such gatherings as tshechu all the dignitaries such as spiritual masters and monks, ministers, secretaries, merchants and the laities give them money as a mark of their appreciation. In return, the atsara also gives auspicious narration in the form of concluding words, which is a unique aspect of Bhutanese culture. Unfortunately, this good aspect of the atsara’s auspicious narration is now on the verge of disappearing.
Social and cultural significance Darshey represents Buddhist culture, it implies religious wordings and conveys human values, accumulates good fortunes and bestow blessings to experience good and happy life further. Offering of cash to Atsara is a gesture of appreciation to the performer not only for entertaining the crowd but, taking the role of supervising the entire program of the Mask Dance Festival.
Transmission method Darshey is learnt by listening, seeing and memorizing the auspicious words while making presentation by an experienced performer. One has to have literary knowledge as well as religious wisdom as the wording has to be well intertwined and weaved with the Buddhist principals to bring and bestow blessings to the host or a patron.
Community Atsara (masked clown) also makes similar speeches during Tshechus (Annual Mask Dance Festivals). Any person with an eloquent and articulate quality are the ones who makes presentations during any auspicious occasions. Data collected by: Mr. Yeshi Lhendup, NLAB
Keyword
Information source
National Library and Archives of Bhutan
https://www.library.gov.bt/archive/

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