Should you happen to be trekking in Bhutan over Easter then you have it timed it perfectly to enjoy a festival called Tshechu.
This festival honours Guru Padsambhava – ‘one who was born from lotus flower’. who contributed to the spread of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan over a thousand years ago.
Paro Tsehchu is considered a major attraction and people travel from neighbouring districts to participate in the festivity. During the time (7-11th of April) dances are performed by monks as well as laymen. It is also a yearly social gathering where the people, dressed in all their finery, come together. It ends with early morning unfurling of a Thongdrel – an embroidered painting which is an example of Buddhist art and considered to be so sacred that simply seeing one is said to cleanse the viewer of sin.
There are a variety of different but connecting stories that form part of the festival and her are just a few to give you a flavour of the celebration:
- Shinje Yab Yum – Dance of the Lord of Death and his Consort
- Durdag – Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds
- Zshana – Dance of the Black Hats
- Degye – Dance of the eight kinds of Spirits
- Tungam – Dance of the Terrifying Deities
- Shawa Shachhi – Lencham: Dance of the Stag and the Hounds
- Sha Tsam – Dance of the four Stags
- Raksha Mangcham – Dance of the Judgement of the Dead
In additional there will be a series of religious songs called Chhoshey that will be sung throughout the festival. The singers, wearing long black skirts, yellow shirts, folded brown coats, felt boots also don a circular head-dress and carry a sword.
For more about Bhutan, click here.
