Next month, the Queen’s Hall in Narberth is hosting a performance of the masked dance from a Tibetan monastery, brought to them by eight Buddhist monks from Tashi Lhunpo, now in exile in South India.

Described as “…a window of time onto a magical universe of reincarnation and release…” by The Independent, the 90-minute performance offers an insight into the world of sacred music and monastic dance, from the contemplative, mesmerising chant of Buddhist texts to the majestic, brocade-costumed masked dances.

Ancient instruments from the Tibetan Tantric tradition are used: the conch-shell trumpet, horns made from human leg bones, and skull-drums, while the shattering sound of the majestic dungchen or long horns is accompanied by cymbals, bells and drums, evoking the atmosphere of sacred Tibet.

The monks now live in exile in their re-established monastery near Mysore in South India, joining at around the age of 11, and embark on a lifetime of study of Buddhist philosophy and monastic ritual. The unique dances are taken from the Gutor Festival preceding Tibetan New Year, and celebrate the destruction of negative aspects of the preceding year.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery UK Trust, which has organised the monks’ visit to Europe, has as its patron His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and is a charity registered in the UK.

They are due to visit Narberth on Saturday, May 14.

For tickets, please contact the Queen’s Hall, Narberth, www.thequeenshall.org.uk, tel. 01834 861212.