VA 1967 Music from the Himalayas – Recordings by Deben Bhattacharya
Khampti mask dance is a religious dance performed by the Khampti tribesmen during Buddha Purnima (April-May) and also during shangken, the winter festival common to Burma and Indonesia. The Khamptis are Buddhists and are of Thai origin. It is a round dance in wich dancers wearing masks of animals and demons stage a fight. The dance ends as a participant in the role of a Buddhist monk intervenes for non-violence and peace. Instruments: six pairs of paishians (large cymbals), four Yammongs (gongs) and four kongtois (cylindrical drums). Dance and music by villagers from Choukham, Lohit, NEFA.