Magical Losel Doll Museum

Losel Doll Museum

Losel Doll Museum, the world’s largest collection of Losel Dolls, is in the Norbulingka institute. The Museum houses a collection of over 150 dolls dressed in traditional costumes from various regions of Tibet. The costumes, meticulously researched, and made from the same materials as the originals would have been, show the richness and diversity of life on the Tibetan Plateau.They are displayed in stunning dioramas depicting traditional life. 

Map of Tibet in the Museum

The Losel Doll project was started in 1983 as a way of preserving the tradition of Tibetan costumes.
The Losel Dolls were created by a group of artist monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery as a project to support their monastery.

Cham Dance

Cham Dance. Cham is a tantric ritual dance performed by monks on special occasions, a tradition which spread throughout Tibet at the beginning of 11th century. Wearing brocade costumes over their robe, the monks put on masks representing the forceful aspects of deities or creature in their entourage. In slow graceful steps, the reenact the visions and dreams of realized lamas. 

The Cham dance depicted here was performed all over Tibet on 29th of the 12th month of Tibetan calendar - The penultimate day of the year. A deer chops up a dough figure which represents all the evils of the past year, ridding the coming year of obstacles and allowing positive influence.

Horse boat ferried

Horse boat ferried. This horse boat ferried  people, loads and animals across Tibet's rivers and lakes. The passengers are dressed in a variety of costumes of central Tibet. The woman on left is from western Tibet.

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