Tsechu
Encyclopedia
Tsechu are annual religious Bhutan
ese festivals 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, but usually is around the time of October. Tsechus are religious festival
s of Drukpa Buddhism. The Thimphu
tsechu and tha Paro
tsechu are among the biggest of the tsechus in terms of participation and audience. Tsechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce.
s, 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.
Most tsechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel
(or thangka
) - a large tapestry
typically depicting a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The thongdrel is unrolled before dawn and rolled up by morning.
Padmasambhava, the great Nyingmapa scholar, visited Tibet and Bhutan in the 8th century and 9th century. He used to convert opponents of Buddhism
by performing rites, reciting mantra
s and finally performing a dance of subjugation to conquer local spirits and gods. He visited Bhutan to aid the dying king Sindhu Raja. Padmasambhava performed a series of such dances in the Bumthang valley to restore the health of the king. The grateful king helped spread Buddhism in Bhutan. Padmasambhava organized the first tsechu in Bumthang
, 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.
On the first day, the performances cover: Dance of the Four Stags (Sha Tsam); Dance of the Three kinds of Ging (Pelage Gingsum); Dance of the Heroes (Pacham), Dance of the Stags and Hounds (Shawo Shachi) and Dance with Guitar (Dranyeo Cham)
On the second day the dances performed are: The Black Hat Dance (Shana), Dance of the 21 black hats with drums (Sha nga ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg), Dance of the Drums from Dramitse (Dramitse Ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg) and Dance of the Stag and Hounds (Shawa Shachi)
On the third day, the dances performed are: Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag), Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Tungam) and Dance of the Rakshas and the Judgement of the Dead (Ragsha Mangcham)
On the last day of the festival, the dances performed cover: Dance of Tamshing in Bumthang, Dance of the Lords of the Cremation grounds (the same dance as day 3), Dance of the Ging and Tsoling (Ging Dang Tsoling) and Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Tshen Gye).
The last day of the four day festival also marks the unfurling of the Thongdrel
, a very large scroll painting or thangka
, which is unfurled with intense religious fervour, early in the morning. This painting measuring 30 metres (98.4 ft)×45 metres (147.6 ft) has the images of Padmasambhava at the centre flanked by his two consorts and also his eight incarnations. Devotees who gather to witness this occasion offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings. Folk dances are performed on the occasion. Before sunrise, the painting is rolled up and kept in the Dzong before it is displayed again one year later.
is set among a group of travellers, most of whom are going to the Thimphu tsechu.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
ese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag
Dzongkhag
A dzongkhag is an administrative and judicial district of Bhutan. The twenty dzongkhags of Bhutan are further divided into 205 gewogs. Some larger dzongkhags have one or more of an intermediate judicial division, known as dungkhags , which themselves comprise two or more gewogs...
of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar
Lunar calendar
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. A common purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar. A feature of the Islamic calendar is that a year is always 12 months, so the months are not linked with the seasons and drift each solar year by 11 to...
Tibetan calendar
Tibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.The Tibetan New Year...
. The month depends on the place, but usually is around the time of October. Tsechus are religious festival
Religious festival
A religious festival is a time of special importance marked by adherents to that religion. Religious festivals are commonly celebrated on recurring cycles in a calendar year or lunar calendar...
s of Drukpa Buddhism. The Thimphu
Thimphu
Thimphu also spelt Thimpu, is the capital and largest city of Bhutan. It is situated in the western central part of Bhutan and the surrounding valley is one of Bhutan's dzongkhags, the Thimphu District. The city became the capital of Bhutan in 1961...
tsechu and tha Paro
Paro, Bhutan
-History:Rinpung Dzong a fortress-monastery overlooking the Paro valley has a long history. A monastery was first built on the site by Padma Sambhava at the beginning of the tenth century, but it wasn't until 1646 that Ngawang Namgyal built a larger monastery on the old foundations, and for...
tsechu are among the biggest of the tsechus in terms of participation and audience. Tsechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce.
Tsechu traditions
The focal point of the tsechus are the sacred Cham DanceCham Dance
The cham dance , also spelled tscham or chaam, is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Buddhism, and is part of Buddhist festivals. The dance is accompanied by music played by monks using traditional Tibetan instruments...
s, which are banned in neighbouring Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral
Moral
A moral is a message conveyed or a lesson to be learned from a story or event. The moral may be left to the hearer, reader or viewer to determine for themselves, or may be explicitly encapsulated in a maxim...
vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingmapa teacher Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
and other saints.
Most tsechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel
Thongdrel
A Thongdrel is a large tapestry unveiled during tsechus in Bhutan. They are equivalent to Tibetan thangka paintings. Thongdrels typically depict a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings....
(or thangka
Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting...
) - a large tapestry
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
typically depicting a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The thongdrel is unrolled before dawn and rolled up by morning.
History of Tsechus
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
by performing rites, reciting mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
s and finally performing a dance of subjugation to conquer local spirits and gods. He visited Bhutan to aid the dying king Sindhu Raja. Padmasambhava performed a series of such dances in the Bumthang valley to restore the health of the king. The grateful king helped spread Buddhism in Bhutan. Padmasambhava organized the first tsechu in Bumthang
Bumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
, 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.
Schedule
The dance schedule for each day of the four day festival is set out and generally consists of the following dances.The last day of the four day festival also marks the unfurling of the Thongdrel
Thongdrel
A Thongdrel is a large tapestry unveiled during tsechus in Bhutan. They are equivalent to Tibetan thangka paintings. Thongdrels typically depict a seated Guru Rinpoche surrounded by holy beings....
, a very large scroll painting or thangka
Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting...
, which is unfurled with intense religious fervour, early in the morning. This painting measuring 30 metres (98.4 ft)×45 metres (147.6 ft) has the images of Padmasambhava at the centre flanked by his two consorts and also his eight incarnations. Devotees who gather to witness this occasion offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings. Folk dances are performed on the occasion. Before sunrise, the painting is rolled up and kept in the Dzong before it is displayed again one year later.
List of tsechus
Below is a list of major tsechus in Bhutan, along with their 2011 dates. Dates in other years will vary.| Date | Tsechu | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 02–04 | Trongsa Tsechu | Trongsa Trongsa District Trongsa District is one of the districts of Bhutan. It is the most central district of Bhutan and the geographic centre of Bhutan is located within it at Trongsa Dzong.... |
| January 02–04 | Lhuntse Tsechu | Lhuntse |
| January 02–04 | Pemagatshel Tsechu | Pemagatshel |
| January 09 | Shingkhar Metochodpa | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| January 09–13 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Trongsa Trongsa District Trongsa District is one of the districts of Bhutan. It is the most central district of Bhutan and the geographic centre of Bhutan is located within it at Trongsa Dzong.... |
| February 10–15 | Punakha Dromache & Tshechu | Punakha Punakha District Punakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts... |
| February 17–21 | Tangsibi Mani | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| February 18 | Chorten Kora | Trashiyangtse |
| February 18 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| February 19–21 | Buli Mani Chumey | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| February–March (1st month, 7th day) |
Trashiyangtse Tsechu | Trashiyangtse |
| March 04 | Chorten Kora (2nd) | Trashiyangtse |
| March 13–15 | Gomkora | Trashigang |
| March 13–15 | Talo Tsechu | Talo, Punakha Punakha District Punakha District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. It is bordered by Thimphu, Gasa, and Wangdue Phodrang Districts... |
| March 13–16 | Zhemgang Tsechu | Zhemgang |
| March 15–19 | Paro Tshechu | Paro Paro District Paro District is the name of a district , valley, river and town in Bhutan. It is one of the most historic valleys in Bhutan. Both trade goods and invading Tibetans came over the pass at the head of the valley, giving Paro the closest cultural connection with Tibet of any Bhutanese district... |
| March 17–19 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chukha |
| April 01–03 | Gaden Chodpa | Ura Ura Gewog -References:... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| May 12–14 | Domkhar Festival | Chhume Chhume Gewog -References:... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| May 14–18 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura Ura Gewog -References:... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| June 19–21 | Padsel–Ling Kuchod | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| June | Laya Bumkhosa Festival (Bongkor) | Laya Laya Gewog Laya Gewog is a gewog of Gasa District, Bhutan. The capital of gewog is the town Laya.... |
| July 08–10 | Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| July 09–10 does not move |
Alpine | Ha Ha, Bhutan Ha or Has is a town and seat of Haa District in Bhutan.Ha is situated in the west of the Sandalwood Kingdom near Sikkim in the Ha Valley. The major economic activity is rice production. It contains two Buddhist temples.-Further reading:... , Haa Haa District This page is about the area Haa. For information about the airships, please see high-altitude airship.Haa District is one of the 20 dzongkhag or districts comprising Bhutan. Per the 2005 census, the population of Haa dzongkhag was 11,648, making it the second least populated dzongkhag in Bhutan... |
| July 10 | Kurjey Tshechu | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| July 29 | Gangte Kurim | Gangte Gangte Gewog Gangteng Gewog is a gewog of Wangdue Phodrang District, Bhutan. It was previously known as Gangte.... , Wangdue Phodrang |
| October 01–05 | Thimphu Drupchen | Thimphu Thimphu District Thimphu District is a dzongkhag of Bhutan. Thimphu is also the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.-Languages:... |
| October 04–06 | Wangdue Tsechu | Wangdue Phodrang Wangdue Phodrang Wangdue Phodrang District is a dzongkhag of central Bhutan. This is also the name of the dzong which dominates the district, and the name of the small market town outside the gates of the dzong... |
| October 04–06 | Gangte Drubchen & Tsechu | Gangte Gangte Gewog Gangteng Gewog is a gewog of Wangdue Phodrang District, Bhutan. It was previously known as Gangte.... , Wangdue Phodrang |
| October 06–08 | Tamshingphala Choepa | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| October 06–08 | Gasa Tsechu | District Gasa Gasa Gasa may refer to:* Gasa District, Bhutan and the district capital town of Gasa, Bhutan* Gasa Medina, Misamis Oriental, Philippines* Gasa Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines*Gasa , a form of Korean classical poetry... |
| October 06–08 | Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu Thimphu District Thimphu District is a dzongkhag of Bhutan. Thimphu is also the capital of Bhutan and the largest city in the whole kingdom.-Languages:... |
| October 10–12 | Thangbi Mani | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| November 01–05 | Shingkhar Rabney | Ura Ura Gewog -References:... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| November 03–06 | Jakar Tsechu | Jakar Jakar Jakar is a town in the central-eastern region of Bhutan. It is the district capital of Bumthang District and the location of Jakar Dzong, the regional dzong fortress... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| November 10–14 | Jambay Lakhang Drup | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| November 11–13 | Prakhar Duchoed | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| November 12 does not move |
Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangte Gangte Gewog Gangteng Gewog is a gewog of Wangdue Phodrang District, Bhutan. It was previously known as Gangte.... , Wangdue Phodrang |
| November 22–25 | Sumdrang Kangsol | Ura Ura Gewog -References:... , Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| December 02–05 | Trashigang Tsechu | Trashigang |
| December 02–05 | Mongar Tsechu | Mongar Mongar District Mongar District is one of the 20 dzongkhags comprising Bhutan. Mongar is the fastest-developing dzongkhag in eastern Bhutan. A regional hospital has been constructed and the region is bustling with many economic activities. Mongar is noted for its lemon grass, a plant that can be used to produce... |
| December 03–04 | Tang Namkha Rabney Tang | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| December 10 | Singye Cham, Jambay Lhakhang | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| December 10–12 | Nalakhar Tsechu | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
| December 10–13 | Chojam Rabney Tang | Bumthang Bumthang District Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted... |
In popular culture
The Bhutanese film Travellers and MagiciansTravellers and Magicians
Travellers and Magicians is a 2003 Bhutanese Dzongkha language film written and directed by Khyentse Norbu, a reincarnate lama of Tibetan Buddhism, who is also known as Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche. The movie is the first feature film shot entirely in the kingdom of Bhutan...
is set among a group of travellers, most of whom are going to the Thimphu tsechu.