Bhutan Festivals

At various times of the year, Bhutanese people in towns and villages congregate to witness the masked dance festivals known as Tshechus. These colorful events draw thousands of locals, some of whom walk for days to attend them. There is inevitably a great deal of socializing; it is an opportunity for people to relax and forget the daily routine, to dress in their finest clothes and jewelry but, more importantly, it is an occasion for prayer and blessings. The Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believed one accumulates merit.

The Tshechu is a festival honoring Guru Padsambhava – ‘one who was born from lotus flower’. This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. around 800 A.D. He is the founder of the Nyingmapa, the ‘old school’ of Lamaism which still has numerous followers. The biography of Guru is highlighted by 12 episodes of the model of Buddha’s (Shakyamuni’s) life. Each episode is commemorated around the year on the 10th day of the month by the ‘Tshechu’.

The dates and duration of the festivals vary from one district to another but they always take place on or around the 10th day of the month according to the Bhutanese calendar.

Tshechu mainly comprises of mask of dances in addition to some folk dance entertainment in between. Festivals are not pageants or entertainment events and definitely not held as tourists’ attraction. They are genuine manifestations of religious traditions which are thousands of years old and which outsiders are given the privilege to attend.