The annual wangdiphodrang tshechu was introduced by zhabdrung ngawang namgyal after the completion of the dzong. In the affected city, it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Also, my mother insists that we can become enlightened merely by seeing the dances and the thongdrel. The tshechu consisted of only a few dances being performed strictly by monks. It was first initiated by the 4th desid, gyalse tenzin rabgay in 1867. The dances invoke the deities of the tantric teachings who through their powers and blessings remove misfortunes by.
Paro, thimphu, punakha and wangdue phodrang giving you the perfect opportunity to discover the pristine wilderness of the kingdom of bhutan, witness a dazzling annual paro tshechu festival and encounter facttoface with ancient tradition that still flourishes alongside modern development. Thimphu tshechu the thimphu tshechu runs for a total of five days in late september or early october depending on the bhutanese lunar calendar. Thimphu tshechu festival, bhutan tours view nepal treks. Throngs of people,travel from around the world and neighboring districts to participate in the festivity. A tshechu or tsechu is an annual religious bhutanese festival held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar tibetan calendar. Dance of the four stags shacham guru rinpoche subdued the god of wind also the lord of the northwest direction and. It is mainly a religious event celebrated on the 10th day of the month of the lunar calendar corresponding to the birthday of guru padmasambhava, an 8th century buddhist teacher. The event encapsulates the essence of the traditional arts and crafts of bhutan and its culture. I was told that in olden days no single person from paro would miss a single day of the tshechu. The thimphu tshechu is a particularly big deal for the population of bhutan, as it is a very rural country and people spend much of their year involved in subsistence farming in. One of the biggest festivals in the country is the thimphu tshechu. Featuring dances performed by trained monks and laymen in amazing. Tshechus are religious festivals of the drukpa lineage of the kagyu school of tibetan buddhism. Paro festival and western bhutan tour bhutan acorn tours.
So it is possible for you to do a four days visit just to attend the festival. In the subsequent days, the courtyard outside the dzong hosts the festival. Both monks and laymen perform dances with colorful costumes, while. Paro tshechu festival paro tshechu is one of the biggest festivals in bhutan and is held in honour of guru rimpoche, one who was born from a lotus flower and spread the tantric form of buddhism in bhutan in the 8th century. Paro tsechu is one of the most popular festivals in bhutan. Paro tshechu is one of the most popular festivals in bhutan, held annually since the 17 th century when zhabdrung ngawang namgyal, the founder of the state of bhutan, and ponpo rigzin nyingpo initiated the festival together with the consecration of paro dzong fortress in 1644. Kurjey tshechu 2019 in bhutan, photos, fair,festival when. One of days of tshechu should fall on the 10 th day of any lunar months in wellfavored times and last for several days. Australia differs a lot from the bhutanese culture in modern bhutan, and features from both cultures. Families and relatives would come together to celebrate the tshechu to sing their songs of gratitude and. Religious dances of bhutan and their costumes bhutan society. Paro, the prominent city of the kingdom of bhutan, hosts every year, the most popular spring festival of bhutan.
Paro tshechu bhutan festival tour bhutanitis travels. Tshechus are composed in every one of the 20 districts of bhutan and each region performs at the ious months from each other and its more like a new year celebrations and its both upbeat festivals for the natives and in addition enormous day of the contributions to the guru rimpoche and other nearby gods. Tshechu are annual religious bhutanese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan. I have been attending since i was a child, but i dont think i really understand the meaning of the cham dances. Gomphu kora tshechu, held in early spring, is very popular festival in the eastern region of bhutan. With the majestic dzongs, lush valleys, a pristine river and a clear sky, this town does not look anything less than a painting. Thimphu tshechu association of bhutanese tour operators.
The festival may seem newer to tourists since it was significantly smaller before the 1950s and because tourism. The monks perform the dance wearing colorful silk brocade and ferocious mask. The tshechu is a religious festival in honour of guru padmasambhava, one who was born from a lotus flower, popularly known as guru rimpoche, who brought buddhism in bhutan in the 8th century. On the first day, all mask dances are held inside the courtyard of the dzong.
The paro tshechu is an annual event held every spring and is by far the most popular pageantry in bhutan with the unfurling of the worlds biggest thangka or thongdrel. Festival ground, paro, bhutan history, paro tshechu. This 8 days 7 nights trip will take you on an enchanted journey through the 4 western districts of bhutan. Tshechu has the meaning day ten, deriving from the fact that tshechus are held on the tenth day of each month of the buddhist calendar used in bhutan. The punakha tshechu is one of the most popular tshechus in the country. The tshechu is a festival in honour of padmasambhava one born from the lotus, popularly known by the name of guru rinpoche, the precious teacher. The actual tshechu is preceded by days and nights of prayer and rituals to invoke the gods. It is held annually in various monasteries, dzongs of bhutan to honor the guru rinpoche padmasambhava being his human form, the lotusborn teacher, who brought tantric buddhism to bhutan in the 8th century.
Its origin is related to the ancient culture and the bhutani mythology. During the festival, monks and laymen perform mask dances over a stretch of three to five days in a temple or monastery. It is believed that the tshechus began to spread in bhutan from trongsa. Paro bhutan culture tours paro tshechu in past and present. There is a sequence of dances at paro tshechu conducted.
Firstly, they are located in the western part of bhutan, an hour drive away from the airport. This festival is held in the capital city for three days. The biggest attraction of gomphu kora is the circumambulation, where people from all over eastern bhutan descend upon the narrow valley, dressed in their finery and jewellery to partake in the festivity. The paro tshechu is one of the biggest festivals in the country. Thimphu tshechu is one of the most popular festivals in bhutan. Different dzongkhags have their tshechu on different months of the year but always on or near the 10th day of that month. Thimphu tshechu starts on the 10th day of the 8th lunar month. Jakar tshechu, monks a tshechu or tsechu is an annual religious bhutanese festival held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar tibetan calendar. Trongsa tshechu is held inside the vast trongsa dzong and is the oldest tshechu in bhutan. Paro tshechu is one of the most popular festivals in bhutan, held annually since the 17th century when zhabdrung ngawang namgyal, the founder of the state of. Giving visitors an illusion as if they are in a dream, paro tshechu. The indian saint was founder of the nyingmapa old school of lamaism, which still has numerous followers today and was instrumental in the spread of tantric buddhism throughout the himalayan regions of tibet, nepal and bhutan. Tshechu are always conducted or ending on the 10 th day of a bhutanese calendar month as the term tshechu means the tenth, which is widely celebrated as birth anniversary of guru rimpoche, the second buddha tshechus are organized in all 20 districts of bhutan as well as each monasteries performing at. There are two main reasons why they are so popular.
Tshechu, or the mask dance festival, is the most important religious festival in bhutan. This tshechu is witnessed by thousands of people many of which travel from neighboring dzongkhags districts to attend the festivities. Paro and thimphu festivals are by far the most popular festivals in bhutan. At the break of dawn, the giant applique scroll is unfurled for public display.
Pdf this volume by khenpo phuntsok tashi, the current head of the. Silk was precious and evoked prosperity as the bhutanese word for both is the. The festival grounds of paro, situated by the paro dzong, is as old as the colourful and vibrant paro tshechu. Paro in bhutan becomes spectacular during its own festival paro tshechu. Punakha talo tshechu is an annual three day event that happens at the talo monastery. Best of bhutan tour l thimphu festival l a and a bhutan. During the festival, mask dances to commemorate the deeds of the great saint guru rinpoche are performed. The highlight of the paro tshechu is the unfurling of the thongdrel on the final day. View nepal proudly present an amazing tour in bhutan to witness famous and main events of thimphu tshechu festival, full of exciting colorful dance programs started by 4th desi, gyalse tenzin rabgay in 1867 ad. Featuring dances performed by trained monks and laymen in amazing masks and costumes, tsechus festivals are one of the best ways to experience the ancient living culture of bhutan. The threeday religious event plays an important role in the lives of bhutanese people as it is an opportunity for the buddhist followers to immerse and cleanse themselves of the bad karma and to remind them of what to make of their lives. The kingdom shares with nepal the worlds greatest concentration of mountains and living heritage of buddhism.
Immerse yourself today by attending thimphu tshechu for a full day. The tshechu is witnessed by thousands of people, both local and tourists. During the tshechu, the traditional bhutanese dances are also presented to the crowds. Punakha dromchoe is an annual festival introduced by zhabdrung, the founder of united bhutan. Elaine dobson for a few days in october, in the himalayan kingdom of. Tshechu planting the seeds of enlightenment kuenselonline. Bhutan festival schedules and dates for bhutan tsechu. Paro tshechu is one of the most famous festivals in bhutan. It is celebrated for three or four days continuously and it is declared as government holiday.
A tshechu is a festival held every year in various temples, monasteries and dzongs across bhutan. This festival is held in the capital city for three days beginning on 10th day of the 8th month of lunar calendar. Therefore, paro tshechu signals the start of busy farming season for the people of paro, who maximum of them are farmers. Hello, i understand paro tschechu 2018 would be on 327331. Bhutan festivals calendar 2020 travel to bhutan druk asia. Tshechu is a very grand colourful festival that is celebrated throughout the different regions of bhutan in different months. On the last day of the celebration, a gigantic thangkha thongdrel of guru rinpoche will be displayed inside the dzong. This tour package is especially designed for visitors who love to celebrate festivals and wants to have deeper insight into the culture of bhutan.
Paro tshechu 2018 what happen on the last day bhutan. This festival is held in thimphu for 3 days beginning on 10th day of the 8th month of lunar calendar. Bhutan festival tour, gangtey tshechu october 06th and. Tsechus are religious festivals, but also large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spreadout villages. With the festival of lights tour bhutan festival tour, gangtey tshechu october 06th and 08th, 2019, you have a 8 day tour package taking you through paro, bhutan and 3 other destinations in bhutan. Jakar tshechu, ging tsholing cham, ging 15659183839. The ground looks the loveliest on the last day of tshechu when the thangka of guru rinpoche is unfolded. Bhutan festival schedules and dates for, bhutan tshechu, paro tsechu, thimphu festivals. Paro tshechu festival 2020 celebrations at their zenith.
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