a person in a garment holding a flag in front of a crowd

This very spectacular and dramatic dance has deep symbolic meaning, namely that sacrificial murder is performed. First, the dancers representing the gods try to enclose the evil spirits in a circle and then into a triangle box. Once this is done, the main god who holds the ritual dagger (phurba), kills them physically, but actually delivers them to salvation at the same time. This dance demonstrates the passage of men and the demi-gods (asuras) who become enemies of Buddhism. Hence, Guru Rinpoche, who is the emanation of all the Buddhas, took the form of “Fierce Thunderbolt” (Dorje Drago). By