A seventy-year-old mask dancer in Zhemgang has proven that age is just a number. The veteran mask dancer who devoted his life to performing mask dances during Tshechu still surprises spectators. He is a delight to behold during such festivals. After forty years, he will be performing his last mask dance during the three-day annual Zhemgang Tshechu later this month.
Popularly known as Agay Jungney, he began his career as a mask dancer at the age of twenty in Trongsa Dzong. He later came to Zhemgang and became one of the first mask dancers to perform during Zhemgang’s first Tshechu in 1977.
With the Tshechu around the corner and his decision to retire as a mask dancer, Agay Jungney is practising for the one last time.
“It is very important to keep our culture and tradition alive. And mask dance is one of them. Mask dances deliver religious messages to people and are believed to ward off evils and misfortunes by invoking deities during the performance. If not preserved, it will be gone and forgotten,” said Agay Jungney.
Agay Jungney is an integral part of the annual festival. He teaches about 20 mask dance items every annual Tshechu.
“When beginners come to learn, I teach and correct them. I do not practice like before but I try to engage myself by teaching them Driglam Namzha and other important things to the young dancers. Unlike in the past, the generation now learns fast in terms of learning the steps in mask dances. Many young boys are showing interest to learn,” added Agay Jungney.
“Despite his age, we have kept him till today because of his rich experience in the field. His valuable contribution and knowledge are important assets for the younger generations to look up to and learn,” said Lhundup, the Dance Coordinator of Zhemgang.
Agay Jungney says that the older generation can play an important role to stir the interest of younger generations to learn about culture and tradition by interacting and connecting with them in fun and meaningful ways.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Sonam Pem
