FESTIVALS

Festival & Cultural Tours

The Tshechu is a festival in honour of Padmasambhava, the second Buddha “one who was born from the lotus flower”, popularly known as “Guru Rinpoche”, or the Precious Teacher. This saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan etc. around 8 century A.D.

During a Tshechu, the dances are performed by the monks as well as by laymen. The dances known as Cham, bring blessing upon the onlookers, instruct them in dharma (Buddhist teachings), protect them from misfortune, and exorcise evil influences. By attending a Tshechu, it is believed one gains merits, power and benediction, and that misfortunes may be destroyed, luck increased and wishes realized. It is also a yearly social gathering where people come together to rejoice.

On the last day of a Tshechu, a large Thongdrol (religious figures embroidered on brocade) is unfurled before sunrise from the wall of the dzong. Thongdrol literally means ‘liberation on sight’. It is believed that simply viewing one of these large relics washes one’s negative deeds away.

Tentative Festival Dates