Singhi dance performed in Taplejung for the first time

By Our Correspondent,Taplejung, Aug. 11: The Singhi dance has been performed in Taplejung for the first time. 

The dance was showcased during the opening ceremony of the Third International Invitational Taplejung Gold Cup Football Tournament, which began on Saturday. It was brought from Sikkim, India, as a special cultural presentation.

The event was organised by the Lakhey Jatra Organising Committee, which specially invited artists from the neighbouring state of Sikkim, India, to perform this dance. The Singhi dance, considered one of Sikkim’s unique cultural heritages, is symbolically linked to the snow leopard. It conveys messages of the Himalayas, nature, and conservation. Performed wearing special costumes and masks, the dance is highly captivating.

According to Dawa Sherpa, the treasurer of the Lakhey Jatra Organising Committee, seven artists from Sikkim were brought to perform the Singhi dance.

 He added that since Taplejung is also a Himalayan district, the performance aimed to spread the message of mountain conservation to the world.

At present, climate change is emerging as a global challenge. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are severely affecting Himalayan settlements and wildlife. The world’s third-highest mountain range, and Nepal’s second-highest, lies within Taplejung.

In addition to the Singhi dance, the opening ceremony also featured cultural dances such as Chyabrung, Lakhey, Chandi, and Tamang Selo. 

However, the Singhi dance, presented in Taplejung for the first time, became the main highlight of the ceremony.

According to the Lakhey Jatra Organising Committee, the Gold Cup aims to promote tourism in the district and contribute to economic development while spreading messages to the world through various means.