Tsechu Festival, Bhutan

Untouched mountains, curved hills, fascinated valleys, God blessing rivers, smiley rural lives and devoted Buddhism, these are what resemble “Bhutan, The Land Of Thunder Dragon”. Since epic time this country is holding the peace in it’s heart through the magic touch of Buddhism. From far historical land of “Tibet”, the air of spirituality flows away through the thunder land of “Bhutan”. According to the world’s view the great land of “Bhutan” is famous for it’s “Gross Happiness”. They maintain their happiness by limited access of modern lifestyle, spiritual Buddhism, ethnicity, cultural activities. Low need of materialistic products, high value of humanity, balance of religion and education makes Bhutan, the natural wonder of the World.

That was a tiny introduction of the spiritual land “Bhutan”. Now I am going to introduce you with an amazing festival of this magic land. From very old time, Bhutan was very isolated. They used to spend almost their lifetime in doing spiritual culture and peacefully time spending. In between their daily life, there were some so of recreations which enlightened the hearts of the villagers. The main festival among all these is “Tsechu (literally “day ten”)”. This is an annual religious Bhutanese festival held in each district or “Dzongkhag” of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar Tibetan calendar. The month depends on the place. The “Thimphu” Tsechu and the “Paro” Tsechu are among the biggest of the tsechus in terms of participation and audience. This is such a festival where, all the local villagers gathered once in year and enjoy the warmness of being together by sharing their mental feelings. They usually enjoy joint lunch during this festival. Well, to the world traveler this is a quite fantasy time spending, because they will surely be attended to the great “Cham Dances”, which are banned in neighbouring “Tibet”.. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingmapa teacher “Padmasambhava” and other saints. “Padmasambhava”, the great Nyingmapa scholar, visited “Tibet” and “Bhutan” in the 8th century and 9th century. He inspired Bhutan king for this dance festival and also performed such series of dance in “Bumthang Valley”, where the eight manifestations of “Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava being the human form)” were presented through eight forms of dances. These became the “Chams” depicting the glory of “Padmasambhava”. Generally all the poor villagers from all the interior remote villages always try to attend this festival. So, when you are here in any area of Bhutan, should attend this festival. Then I can promise you, that you will be lucky to get all the ethnic and antic groups of different highlands, just like the incredible “Laya Villagers” in your camera lens. Wish you best luck for your journey to this “Land Of Thunder Dragon”.