The Tshechu (Annual Festival)
 The
Tshechu is a festival honoring Guru Padma Sambhava,
“one who was born from a lotus flower.”
This Indian saint contributed enormously to
the diffusion of Tartaric Buddhism in the Himalayan
regions of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan etc. around
800 AD. He is the founder of the Nyingmapa,
the “old school” of Lamaism which
still has numerous followers. The biography
of Guru is highlighted by 12 episodes of the
model of the Buddha Shakyamuni’s life.
Each episode is commemorated around the year
on the 10th day of the month by “the Tshechu”.
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. During
Tshechu, the dances are performed by monks as
well as by laymen. The Tshechu is a religious
festival and by attending it, it is believed
one gains merits. It is also a yearly social
gathering where the people, dressed in all their
finery, come together to rejoice. Detailed explanation
on the meaning of each dance performed during
the Tshechu will be provided to guests by our
tour guides.
Festival Dance schedule:
Day 1.
-
Shacham Dance
of the 4 stags (Costume: the stags wear knee-length
skirts and masks of stags) The stag dance
portrays the subjugation of the evil Wind
King by Guru Rimpoche.
-
Peling Ging Sum
: Dance of the Three Kings of Ging
(Costume: The Gings wear knee-length skirts.
The first part of this dance is performed
with sticks and animal masks; the second with
swords and fierce masks) this mask dance symbolizes
victory of good over evil. The great “Treasure
Discoverer” Pema Lingpa in Zandopelri,
is believed to have seen the dance of the
Three Kings of Ging - all emanations of Guru
Rimpoche.
-
Pacham : Dance
of the Heroes (Costume: Knee-length yellow
skirts and golden crowns. No mask. They hold
small bells and drums. This dance portrays
the act of leading believers of the human
world into the presence of Guru Rimpoche.
-
Shawo Shachi :
Dance of the Stag and the Hounds (Costume:
dog mask, stag mask and knee-length yellow
skirts). The dance portrays compassion over
all sentient beings as the great sage, Jetseon
Milarepa, brings harmony between the stag,
(the prey) and a dog, (the predator).
-
Dramyan Cham :
Dance of the Guitar (Costume: Elaborate and
heavy woolen clothes with traditional felt
boots, long black skirt, yellow shirt, brown
coat, sword and a circular head dress. One
dancer is holding a traditional guitar called
Dramyen.
-
Zshana:
Dance of the 21 Black Hats. (Costume: large
black hat, felt boots, colourful brocade long
dress. No masks The Black Hat Dancers represent
yogis who have the power to take and recreate
life.
-
Zshana Nga Cham:
Dance of the 21 Black Hats with drums
This is a victory dance following the destruction
of the evil.
-
Kyecham:
Dance of the Attendants (Costume: Knee-length
yellow skirts, animal masks, sword in the
right hand) The dance portrays King Norzang
and his armed companions during a holy war.
-
Phole Mole:
Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies This
drama is based on the folktale of King Norzang.
-
Dramitse Ngacham:
Dance of the 16 Drum-Beaters from
Dramitse. (Costume: Knee-length yellow skirts,
different animal masks and drums) This illustrates
a vision seen by 15th by nun Chorten Zangmo
in the 15th century in which she saw the attendants
of Guru Rimpoche performing a dance.
-
Shao Shachi:
Dance of the Stag and the Hound (see day one,
No.4)
-
Durdag :
Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds
(Costume: white short skirts, white boots,
white skull masks. This dance portrays how
the lords (protectors) of the cremation grounds
subjugated the assembly of demonic powers
who have violated their oath of not harming
the tartaric doctrine.
-
Tungam :
Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Costume:
Beautiful brocade dresses, boots and terrifying
masks.) The dance demonstrates the passage
of men and the demi-gods who become enemies
of Buddhism. To overcome these evil powers,
Guru Rimpoche takes the form of “Fierce
Thunderbolt”. He then wages war against
the evil forces and liberates men into a superior
sphere of bliss.
-
Raksha Mangcham
: Dance of the Raksha and the Judgement
of the Dead. It’s a dance of the Rakshas
who are the helpers of the Lord of Death “Shinje.”
The dance dramatises souls of beings led to
judgement before “Shinje”.
-
Bumthang Ter Cham:
A folk dance of Bumthang Tamshing (Costume:
white masks, knee-length yellow skirts, a
little bell and drum in hand.)
-
Durdag:
Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds
-
Ging Dang Tsholing:
The Dance of Ging and Tsholing (Costume: The
Tsholing wear long colourful dresses and terrifying
masks. The Ging wear a replica of a tiger
skins, attractive animal masks with a flag
on top and carry drums. This dance depicts
the paradise of Ugyen Rimpoche, i.e. the Zangtoepelri
from where all the incarnations of Ugyen Rimpoche,
essence of all the Buddhas, are sent to the
Three Worlds.
-
Guru Tshen Gye:
Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Guru.
It is believed that during the performance
of this particular dance, Ugyen Rimpoche manifests
Himself, and the onlookers at the dance receive
the blessings of Ugyen Rimpoche’s mind,
speech and body.
-
Rigma Chudrug:
Dance of the Sixteen Fairies The sixteen fairies
are emanations of the same person. They are
Goddesses of offerings who are divided into
four categories. Each category is again divided
into four, totaling 16. The dance is performed
to bring total happiness for the people who
believe in the manifestations of Ugyen Rimpoche.
TENTATIVE
FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2013 |
| S.No |
Festival |
Place |
Date |
| 1 |
PUNAKHA DRUBCHHEN |
Punakha Dzong,
PUNAKHA |
15th – 19th February |
| 2 |
PUNAKHA TSHECHU |
Punakha Dzong,
PUNAKHA |
20th – 22nd February |
| 3 |
CHHORTEN KORA |
Chorten Kora,
TRASHI YANGTSE |
25th February & 11th March |
| 4 |
GOMPHUKORA |
Gom Kora Lhakhang,
TRASHIGANG |
20th – 22nd March |
| 5 |
PARO TSHECHU |
Rinpung Dzong,
PARO |
23rd – 27th March |
| 6 |
CHHUKHA TSHECHU |
Chhukha Dzong,CHHUKHA |
25th – 27th March |
| 7 |
URA YAKCHOE |
Ura Lhakhang,BUMTHANG |
21st – 25th April |
| 8 |
NIMALUNG TSHECHU |
Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi,
BUMTHANG |
16th – 18th June |
| 9 |
KURJEY TSHECHU |
Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor,
BUMTHANG |
18th June |
| 10 |
THIMPHU DRUBCHEN |
Tashichho Dzong,
THIMPHU |
9th – 13th September |
| 11 |
WANGDUE TSHECHU |
Wangdi Dzong,
WANGDUEPHODRANG |
12th – 14th September |
| 12 |
TAMSHING PHALA
CHHOEPA |
Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor,
BUMTHANG |
13th – 15th September |
| 13 |
THIMPHU TSHECHU |
Tashichho Dzong,
THIMPHU |
14th – 16th September |
| 14 |
THANGBI MANI |
Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor,
BUMTHANG |
18th – 20th September |
| 15 |
JAMBAY LHAKHANG
DRUP |
Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor,
BUMTHANG |
18th – 22nd October |
| 16 |
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED |
Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi,
BUMTHANG |
19th – 21st October |
| 17 |
CRANE FESTIVAL |
Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha,
WANGDUEPHODRANG |
11th November |
| 18 |
MONGAR TSHECHU |
Mongar Dzong,
MONGAR |
9th – 12th November |
| 19 |
PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU |
Pemagatshel Dzong,
PEMAGATSHEL |
9th – 12th November |
| 20 |
TRASHIGANG TSHECHU |
Trashigang Dzong,
TRSASHIGANG |
10th – 13th November |
| 21 |
NALAKHAR TSHECHU |
Nga Lhakhang, Choekhor,
BUMTHANG |
17th – 19th November |
| 22 |
TRONGSA TSHECHU |
Trongsa Dzong,
TRONGSA |
9th – 11th January 2014 |
| 23 |
LHUENTSE TSHECHU |
Lhuentse Dzong,
LHUENTSE |
9th – 11th January 2014 |
|
| |
| TENTATIVE
FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2014 |
| SL# |
FESTIVAL |
PLACE |
DATES |
| 1 |
PUNAKHA DRUBCHEN |
PUNAKHA |
6th – 10th Mar |
| 2 |
PUNAKHA TSHECHU |
PUNAKHA |
11th – 13th Mar |
| 3 |
CHHORTEN KORA |
TRASHIYANGTSHE |
16th Mar & 30th Mar |
| 4 |
GOMPHUKORA |
TRASHIGANG |
7th – 9th Apr |
| 5 |
PARO TSHECHU |
PARO |
11th – 15th Apr |
| 6 |
CHHUKHA TSHECHU |
CHHUKHA |
13th – 15th Apr |
| 7 |
URA YAKCHOE |
BUMTHANG |
10th – 14th May |
| 8 |
NIMALUNG TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
5th – 7th Jun |
| 9 |
KURJEY TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
7th Jun |
| 10 |
TOUR OF THE DRAGON (BICYCLE RACE) |
Bumthang to Thimphu |
6th Sep |
| 11 |
THIMPHU DRUBCHEN |
THIMPHU |
28th Sept. – 2nd Oct |
| 12 |
WANGDUE TSHECHU |
WANGDUEPHODRANG |
1st – 3rd Oct |
| 13 |
TAMSHING PHALA CHHOEPA |
BUMTHANG |
2nd – 4th Oct |
| 14 |
THIMPHU TSHECHU |
THIMPHU |
3rd – 5th Oct |
| 15 |
GASA TSHECHU |
GASA |
3rd – 5th Oct |
| 16 |
THANGBI MANI |
BUMTHANG |
7th – 9th Oct |
| 17 |
JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP |
BUMTHANG |
6th – 10th Nov |
| 18 |
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED |
BUMTHANG |
7th – 9th Nov |
| 19 |
BLACK NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL |
WANGDUEPHODRANG |
11th Nov |
| 20 |
MONGAR TSHECHU |
MONGAR |
28th Nov. – 1st Dec |
| 21 |
TRASHIGANG TSHECHU |
TRASHIGANG |
29th Nov. – 2nd Dec |
| 22 |
NALAKHAR TSHECHU |
BUMTHANG |
6th – 8th Dec |
| 23 |
DRUK WANGYEL TSHECHU |
Dochula, THIMPHU |
13th Dec |
| 24 |
TRONGSA TSHECHU |
TRONGSA |
30th Dec – 1st Jan 2015 |
| 25 |
LHUENTSE TSHECHU |
LHUENTSE |
30th Dec. – 1st Jan 2015 |
|
|
