 |
Bhutan Religion |
|
|
Bhutan Information |
|
|
 |
|
Festivities
in the western dzongkhags
|
|
Tshechu
Festivals in 2001
|
 |
The dance of the Noblemen and Ladies being performed at the second day
of the Thimphu Tshechu The
Tshechu is a festival honouring Guru Padmasambhava, an Indian saint
who contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutanaround 800 AD. He is
the founder of the Nyingmapa, the "old school"of Lamaism. |
The
biography of the Guru is highlighted by the 12 episodes of Buddha Shakyamuni's
life. Each episode is commemorated on the10th day of the month. The
Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believe done
gains merits. The dates and the 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.
 |
Several
thousand devotees are attending the Thimphu Tshechu which will conclude
today with the dance of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche
(Guru Tshen Gyed) where dancers depict the eight forms of the Guru.
The
four-day annual Thimphu Tshechu, which began on September 26, was preceded
by the 15-day Lhamo Dubchhen, a rite performed to appease the protecting
deity Pelden Lhamo (goddess Mahakali). |
The
main highlight of the 15-day annual Dubchhen was the LhamTsomo dance, dedicated
to Mahakali, performed in the courtyard of Tashichhodzong .The
Dubchhen was instituted sometime between 1705 and 1709 by Kuenga Gyaltshen,
the first reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, the son of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.
According
to legend, Pelden Lhamo appeared before him and performed the dances while
he was inmeditation. Based on these dances, Kuenga Gyeltshen initiated
theDubchhen. Palden Lhamo is the only female dharma protector common
to allthe four schools of Buddhism. She appears very wrathful, and ridesher
mule through a sea of blood, surrounded by fire.
The
Thimphu tshechu was introduced in 1687 during the reign of the fourth Desi,
Tenzin Rabgye.
Meanwhile,
the annual Phurpai Dubchhen (Vajra tradition) ceremony at the National
Memorial Chorten concluded on September 27 with the Nguedup Langwa blessings.
The eight-day ceremony was performed in three groups. According to a spokesman
for the Dratshang Lhentshog, the Phurpai Dubchhen was started in 1974 as
part of completion ceremony for theNational Memorial Chorten and became
an annual ceremony in 1981.
top
All
the government offices in Paro dzongkhag remained closed fromSeptember
24 to 26 on the occasion of the Paro Domchhoe. The three-day festival, which
concluded with the immersion of offerings into the Pachhu river, was preceded
by the 11-day Gonpoi Dubchhen.
The
Gonpoi Dubchhen is dedicated to Yeshey Goenpo or Mahakala, the main protecting
deity of Bhutan. The Dubchhen was introduced in Paro, Wangduephodrang and
Trongsa by the 68th Je Khenpo, HisHoliness Tenzin Dendup, in 1987.
Yeshey
Goenpo is one of the most prominent guardians or protectordeities of the
Drukpa Kagyue school of Buddhism. An emanation of Chenrezi (Avalokitesvara),
Mahakala is said to be the wrathful deity that brings the minds into attentive
focus.
top
In
Wangduephodrang, the 16-day annual Gonpoi Dubchhen was held from September
6 to September 21 while the three-day annual Tshechu concluded on September
27 with the unfurling of the Guru Tshengye Thongdroel. The annual Wangduephodrang
Tshechu was introduced by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal after he built the
Wangduephodrang dzong in 1638.
top
More
than 100 monks began a seven day recitation of Tsepagmey Bumdey (prayer
for long evity) on September 26 and will conclude on October 2 with theTshewang
(blessing for long life) from the sacred staff (walking stick) of Yongzin
Ngagi Wangchuk who founded the Trongsa dzong in 1541. The 16-day annual
Gonpoi Dubchhen is slated to begin some time next week.
top
The
Haa Tshechu, which was introduced in 1990, also concluded on Thursday with
the unfurling of the Guru Thongdroel. Only three years ago the Haa Rabdey
was taking dancers from Paro and Thimphu but now has its own dancers. The
Haa rabdey was established in 1983 in the Lhakhang Karpo and currently
has about 70 monks.
top
The
people of Gasa are celebrating their first Tshechu festival nine years
after Gasa became a separate dzongkhag. The three-day Tshechu, which will
become an annual event,concludes today with an offering of Goenpoi Tongtshok.
"Since we are organising the Tshechu in the dzongkhag for the first time,
we have managed to arrange only a few mask dances alongwith folk dances
and Goenzhe," Lam Neten of Gasa rabdey told. "With the introduction of
annual Tshechu we can also promote and preserve our traditional Goenzhe,
a classical dance of Goen's people."
The
Gasa rabdey with 45 monks was established in 1998 in the Tashi Thongmoen
dzong, coinciding with the silver jubilee celebration of His Majesty's
enthronement. The Tashi Thongmoen dzong was built byZhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
in 1649.
| This
article was contributed by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper 2001 |
 |
| Information on Bhutan |
 |
|
