“Last night, I met some girls after my performance. They called me cute Lakhe,” shares Ranjit, who has been performing Lakhe dance, the dance of the demons, for the last 17 years during Indra jatra. “I learned the dance from my seniors who performed during Indra jatra in the past.”[break]
Ranjit, who is solider of Nepal Army by profession, always manages to find some time off his duty for his Indra Jatra performance. From his childhood, he had always wanted to be Lakhe as he fancies the demon as next only to Kumari in terms of supernatural powers. “It´s a great honor to get a chance to perform Lakhe dance in Indra Jatra,” says Ranjit. “I cannot define the pleasure and satisfaction of wearing the dress and mask of Lakhe.”
Ranjit got the chance to be a Lakhe when he was just 12 years old. While the three chariots carrying the Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab reached at Bhimsenthan, one of his friends offered him for the performance; he took his offer and performed. Many people liked his dance and appreciated him to give continuity to the Lakhe dance.
“I would not have continued the dance had the people not appreciated my dance,” says Ranjit. “Even my family encouraged me to perform the dance.”
The mask weighs nearly 25 kg and people generally assume that it´s very difficult to put the mask on and perform. But in reality, Ranjit says, he does not feel any difficulty or pain while performing the Lakhe dance. He strongly believes the mask carries some kind of supernatural power.
“As I have been performing the dance for many years, I can say that there is something in the dress and mask,” says Ranjit. “Positive energy fills my body after wearing these things.”
“On the third day of Indra Jatra, I got lots of scratches and wounds on my legs while performing, but I did not feel anything the whole day. I knew about the wounds only the next day,” shares Ranjit. “This shows the divine power of Lakhe. Even my friends say they have felt it.”
Like Ranjit, there are many youngsters who have been performing Lakhe dance during Indra Jatra. A kind of craze and excitement about the Lakhe is found among the young boys from Newar community. Most of them want to be Lakhe as they feel blessed by wearing the mask and clothes of Lakhe.
“Lots of young boys start visiting my place many days before the Indra Jatra in order to get the chance to be the Lakhe,” shares Rajeev Ranjitkar, who leads Lakhe dance performance. “It´s very difficult for me to choose one from them as all of them dance well.”
According to Ranjitkar, during ancient time, only Ranjitkars were allowed to be Lakhe and perform the dance but nowadays there is no such restriction. People of any caste can perform Lakhe dance. Today, he gives priority to the best performers.
“They perform free of cost. I have to give them nothing for the performance but many people think the dancer would get money and gifts, which is not true.”
Lakhe dance is performed during the eighth day of Indra Jatra, which falls in the month of September every year. Lakhe dance is performed in front of the three chariots so that Kumari, the living goddess, can enjoy the entire entertainment and dance.
According to mythology, Lakhe performers are kept ahead of the chariots in order to show the way to the chariot of the Kumari.
“Though our purpose is different from mythologies, we think goddess Kumari´s entertainment is the most important thing for us,” says Ranjitkar. “Nowadays, fight between Lakhe and other during Indra Jatra has been minimized compare to the past. It is also because of good coordination among all the participants in Indra Jatra.”
According to Ranjitkar, Lakhe dance is culturally and historically more valuable as only during Indra Jatra their Lakhe´s mask is put on display for the devotees.
With the completion of Indra Jatra, they offer kshyama puja and keep the Lakhe´s mask in a safe place. Along with the mask, the dresses and accessories of the Lakhe are also stored. Once these things are kept inside, no gets the permission to enter the room.
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