GU-STOR
Significance: Traditional Celebration Of The Monasteries Of The Reformist Geluk-Pa Order Of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Victory Of Black Hat Dancers Over Evil
Gu-Stor literally means 'Sacrifice of the 29th day'. It is traditional to
the monasteries of the reformist Geluk-pa order of Tibetan Buddhism. This
two-day long festival is held mainly in the Spituk, Thiksay (also spelt as
Thiksey) and Karsha (Zanskar) monasteries, at different times every year.
The celebration ends with the dismemberment and dispersal of the 'Storma
'(sacrificial cake) by the leader of the Black Hat dancers in a ceremony
called 'Afghan' or 'Killing'.'.. This symbolises the destruction of all
forms of evil. And also re-enacts the assassination of the Tibetan
apostate King Lang-dar-ma, by a Buddhist monk in the mid 9th century.
In Some monasteries, an effigy symbolising the stronger forces of evil is
burnt at the end of the festival. The masks worn by the dancers represent
the guardian divinities (Dharmapalas) of the Buddhist pantheon, and the
patron divinities of the Geluk-pa order.
