BAJRAYOGINI: After the names of goddess, Bajrayogin, there is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal. According to the Buddhist tantric tradition, there are four Yogini ( tantric goddess) in the Kathmandu Valley. Bajrayogini is one of them. In this particular dance, the goddess, Bajrayogini is depicted as greatly pleased with her devotees for their prayers and thereupon showering blessings on them. Of particular importance are the symbolic movements of hands and fingers dexterously timed with general body movements and facial expression. This dance demonstrates a beautiful blend of wrathful feelings and peaceful emotions, suggestion at the same time a strong sense of protection and preservation. It is performed particularly in the Buddhist temple on special occasion of going through the ritual.

ARYA TARA: The worship of the female principal was introduced into Buddhism in the form of deity Tara. She is believed to destroy fear and lead people across the ocean of sorrow.

MANJUSHREE: Manjushree is the oldest bodhi of the Bodhisattvas and his worship confers on the devotee wisdom , retentive memory, intelligence and eloquence. He is the patron of those who preach the Dharma. In Nepal, he has a special place according Buddhist legend it was Manjushree who came from Mahachin, worshipped the self existence flame at the age of the lake which covered the valley and then drained the valley by cutting through the ridge at its rim with his flaming sword thus making the valley fit for human habitation. The famous swayambhu Maha Chaitya marks the place of the self existence flame on to the west of the chaitya is an important shrine of Manjushree.

PANCHA BUDDHA: The Pancha Buddha (Five Buddha's) shows five transcendental Buddhism. According to Vajrayana teaching, original consciousness usually symbolized by Vajrasattva or Vajradhara is radiated into these five Buddha's: Vairochana ("The Brilliant one"), Akshobhya ("The u-

nshakable"), Ratnasambhava ("The matrix of the jewel"), Amitabha ("The infinite light") and The Amoghasiddhi (" The infalliable realization"). Each has their particular posture, colour and direction. Four of them are situated at the cardinal points of the stupa with the fifth Vairochana considered to reside in the center. Nevertheless they are not conceived as separate deities but as the five constituents of personality ( Skando ), which resides in each man.

BHAIRAV-KALI: This is one of the classical dances of Nepal, popular in the Kathmandu Valley where it has originated. As the mane implies, it is a religious dance supposed to be danced by Bhairav and Kali. Bhairav is a form of the god Shive and Kali, his consort, the goddess Durga. It is believed that the creation of the universe is the cosmic union of Bhairav and Kali. Bhairav is therefore, the father and Kali, the mother of the universe. So the responsibility of protecting the universe is that of Bhairav and Kali.

MAHAKALI: This is one of the most popular masked dances of the newars. It is based on the religious story from a Hindu Puran called "Mahakali Mahalaxmi". According to this the three goddesses, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Kumari (three of the eight deities that protect the eight direction of Kathmandu Valley and have different ghost followers. These mother goddesses were practiced by eighty four siddhas to gain mystic power) came down to heaven to vanquish the demons that spread great misery and hardship among human defeated them, thus stabilizing peace and order on earth. This dance shows victory over the demons.

KUMARI: The Kumari dance is one of the very ancient classical dances of the kingdom of Nepal. This dance is dedicated to the will known living goddess "Kumari" of Nepal. During the famous "Indra Jatra " festival in kathmandu the living goddess Kumari decked with splendid ornaments and been taken around the old Kathmandu in a chariot. And thousan-

ds of Nepalese people pay homage to her including the king of Nepal.

LAKHE: Once upon a time, lots of children were killed by a kind of Devil. So the Astrologist ( jhakri) searched the solution to control the Devil for the protection of public's children. Finally they found out the right solution that was Lakhe (same like Devil) whom they ordered to kill the Devil immediately. After that all the children were safe. Then onward, people from Kathmandu (especially Newar communities) started celebrating this lakhe festival with a dance program every year on July-August during festival of Indra Jatra. This is a traditional mask dance of Kathmandu Valley which is performed during the festival of Indra Jatra. Indra means the king of heaven and the Jatra means the special function. Because of the success from the devil, these dances are organized in a period of Indra Jatra.

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