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FESTIVALS
Origin and importance of Tshechu
The Tshechu is a festival in honour of
Padmasambhava, “one who was born from the lotus
flower”, popularly known as “Guru Rinpoche”, the
Precious Teacher. 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 Nyingmapa, the
“old school” of Mahayana Buddhism, which still has
numerous episodes on the model of the Buddha
Shakyamuni’s life. The festival of sacred dances is
held annually. It was Drukpa Kuenley’s descendant,
Tenzin Rabgye, the 4th Temporal Ruler, who
established the tradition of Tshechu in 1670 on the
10th day of the 8th month of the Bhutanese calendar
to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru
Rinpoche. The dates and the duration of the festival
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. Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal and Pema Lingpa established many of
the dances performed during tsechus.
During tshechu, the monks as well as laymen perform
the dances. The dancers take on the aspects of
wrathful and compassionate deities, heroes, demons
and animals. The dances known as cham, bring
blessing upon the onlookers, instruct them in dharma
(Buddhist teachings), protect them from misfortune
and exorcise evil influences. The tshechu is a
religious festival and by attending it, it is
believed one gains merits. Deities are invoked
during the dances. Through their power and
benediction misfortunes may be destroyed, luck
increased and wishes realized. It is also a yearly
social gathering where the people come together to
rejoice. People come for tshechu dressed in their
finery.
SAMPLE FESTIVAL ITINERARY HERE.
Festival Dates of 2008
|
FESTIVAL |
PLACE |
DATES |
|
PUNKHA DROMCHE |
PUNAKHA |
FEB 11 - FEB 15 |
|
CHORTEN KORA |
TRASHI YANGTSE |
FEB 21 - MAR 7 |
|
GOMKORA |
TRASHIGANG |
MAR 14 - MAR 16 |
|
PARO TSHECHU |
PARO |
MAR 17 - MAR 21 |
|
CHHUKHA TSHECHU |
CHHUKHA |
MAR 19 - MAR 21 |
|
URA YAKCHOE |
BUMTHANG |
APR 16 - APR 20 |
|
NIMALUNG TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
JUL 10 - JUL 12 |
|
KURJEY TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
JUL 12 |
|
THIMPHU DRUPCHEN |
THIMPHU |
OCT 4 - OCT 8 |
|
WANGDI TSHECHU |
WANGDI PHODRANG |
OCT 7 - OCT 9 |
|
THIMPHU TSHECHU |
THIMPHU |
OCT 9 - OCT 11 |
|
TAMSHINGPHALA CHOEPA |
BUMTHANG |
OCT 8 - OCT 10 |
|
TANGBI MANI |
BUMTHANG |
OCT 13 - OCT 15 |
|
JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP |
BUMTHANG |
NOV 12 - NOV 16 |
|
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED |
BUMTHANG |
NOV 13 - NOV 15 |
|
MONGAR TSHECHU |
MONGAR |
DEC 4 - DEC 7 |
|
PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU |
PEMAGATSHEL |
DEC 4 - DEC 7 |
|
TRASHIGANG TSHECHU |
TRASHIGANG |
DEC 5 - DEC 8 |
|
NALAKHAR TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
DEC 12 - DEC 14 |
|
TRONGSA TSHECHU |
TRONGSA |
JAN 5 - JAN 7 (2009) |
|
LHUNTSE TSHECHU |
LHUNTSE |
JAN 5 - JAN 7 ( 2009) |
|
TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2009 |
|
FESTIVAL |
PLACE |
DATES |
|
Punakha Tshechu |
Punakha |
1 – 8 Mar |
|
Chorten Kora |
Trashiyangtse |
11 Mar and 26
Mar |
|
Gomkora
Tshechu |
Trashigang |
2 – 4 Apr |
|
Paro Tshechu |
Paro |
5 – 9 Apr |
|
Chukha
Tshechu |
Chukha |
7 – 9 Apr |
|
Ura Yakchoe |
Bumthang |
5 – 9 May |
|
Nimalung
Tshechu |
Bumthang |
30 Jun – 2
Jul |
|
Kurjey
Tshechu |
Bumthang |
2 Jul |
|
Thimphu Drupchen |
Thimphu |
23 – 27 Sep |
|
Wangdue
Tshechu |
Wangduephodrang |
26 – 28 Sep |
|
Tamshingphala
Choepa |
Bumthang |
27 – 29 Sep |
|
Thimphu Tshechu |
Thimphu |
28 – 30 Sep |
|
Tangbi Mani |
Bumthang |
3 - 5 Oct |
|
Jambay
Lakhang Drup |
Bumthang |
2 - 6 Nov |
|
Prakhar
Duchhoed |
Prakhar |
3 - 5 Nov |
|
Mongar
Tshechu |
Mongar |
25 - 27 Nov |
|
Pemagatsel
Tshechu |
Pemagatshel |
25 - 27 Nov |
|
Trashigang
Tshechu |
Trashigang |
26 - 28 Nov |
|
Nalakhar
Tshechu |
Bumthang |
2 - 4 Dec |
|
Trongsa
Tshechu |
Trongsa |
25 - 27 Dec |
|
Lhuntse
Tshechu |
Lhuntse |
25 - 27 Dec |
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