Traditional & Mask Dances of Nepal:

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. According to the Buddhist legends it is Manjushree who came from Mahachina, 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 Chitya marks the place of the self resistant flame on to the west of the Chaitya is an important shrine of Manjushree.

BAJRAYOGINI:
According to the Buddhist tantric tradition, there are four Yoginis (tantric goddesses) in the Kathmandu Valley. Bajrayogini, one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal. The goddess, Bajrayogini is depicted as greatly pleased with her devotees for their prayers and thereupon showering blessings on them. The particular importance of the dances are the symbolic movements of hands and fingers skillfully timed with the general body movements and the facial expressions. The dance demonstrates a beautiful blend of enraged feelings and peaceful emotion, with the suggestions at the same time a strong sense of the protection and preservation. It is performed particularly in the Buddhist temples on special occasions through the rituals.

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

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 unshakable"), Ratnasambhava (" The matrix of the jewel"), Amitabha ("The infinite light"), and The Amoghasiddhi ( The infallible realization). Each has their particular pose, color and direction. Four of them are situated at the prime points if the stupa  with the fifth Vairochana considered to reside in the center. Never the less they are not conceived as separate deities, but as the five constituents of personality (Skanda), which reside in each man.

BHIRAB-KALI:
This is one of the classical dances of Nepal, popular in the Kathmandu Valley where it has originated. As the name implies, it is a form of the god Shiva and Kali, his companion, the goddess Durga. It is believed that the creation of the universe is is the cosmic union of Bhairab and Kali. Therefore, Bhairab is the father and Kali, the mother of the universe. The responsibility of protecting the universe goes to Bhairav and Kali.

MAHAKALI:
Its one of the most popular masked dances of the Newar  community which is based on the religious legend from a Hindu Puran Called 'Mahakali Mahalaxmi'. According to this legend, the three goddess Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Kumari (three of the eight deities which protects the eight directions of Kathmandu Valley and have different ghost followers. These mother goddesses were practiced by Eight four sidhhas to gain mystic power) came down to heaven to overcome the demons that spread great misery and hardship among human beings. So the almighty Goddesses waged a great war with demons and defeated them, thus stabilizing peace and order on the earth. This dance shows the great joy and happiness after the great victory over the demons.

LAKHE:
This is a traditional mask dance of Kathmandu valley, which is performed during the festival of Indra Jatra. During those old times, lots of children were killed by a type of Devil. After consultation with the Astrologist (Jhankri) the solution to control over the Devil for protection of the children. Finally, they found out the right solution that is, called LAKHE (similar to Devil), order to Lakhe to kill the Devil immediately. After those children all are safe. From that onwards original people from Kathmandu ( The Newar community) celebration this Lakhe festival with a dance program in every year at July- August during the festival of Indra Jatra. Indra means the king of Heaven and the Jatra means the special function. To get the success from the Devil, these dances organized in a period of
Indra Jatra.