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Bhutan Festivals |
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Bhutan Festivals |
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| Tshechu Mask Dance |
| The
largest annual festival in Bhutan is the Tshechu, an event honoring Guru
Rinpoche through Religious dances performed by the monks as well as
by lay people. The dates and duration of the Tshechu festivals vary among
dzongkhags (Districts) but they always fall on or around the 10th day of
the month in the Bhutanese calender.
The
dances are known as Cham and are performed to bless onlookers, to
teach them the Buddhist dharma, to protect them from misfortune and to
exorcise all evil; the dancers who take on the aspects of wrathful and
compassionate deities, heroes, demons, and animals do this. |
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Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal and Pema Lingpa were main figures who composed
many of the dances.
It
is believed that merit is gained by attending this Religious festival.
The dances invoke the deities to wipe out misfortunes, increase luck and
grant personal wishes. Onlookers rarely fail to notice the Atsaras or clowns who move through the crowds mimicking the dancers and performing
comic routines in their mask with long red noses. A group of ladies perform
traditional Bhutanese dances during the intervals between mask dances.
| Dance
of Guru Rinpoche |
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An
auspicious event of the many of the Tshechus is the unfurling of
the Thongdrol from the main building overlooking the dance area.
This
is done before sunrise and most people rush to witness the moment. Thongdrols
are large Thangkas or Religious pictures that are usually embroidered
rather than painted. The word itself means 'liberation on sight.' It is
believed that bad karmas are wiped away simply by viewing it.
Apart
from its Religious implications, the Tshechu is also an annual social gathering
where people dress in their finest clothing and jewelry.
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A small fair may
be organized outside the Dzong for those looking for a variety of
entertainments.
| Information on Bhutan |
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