Festivals of Bhutan

Tshechu means “tenth day”. These religious festivals honour Guru Rinpoche, the master who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, and are held in the courtyards of dzongs and temples across the country. Over several days, monks and lay dancers perform cham, masked dances that tell stories and teach Buddhist ideas, while atsaras, masked clowns, entertain the crowd.

For Bhutanese families a tshechu is a time to gather, picnic, wear their best clothes and receive blessings. At some festivals a giant thangka, called a thongdrel, is unrolled before dawn on the final day; seeing it is believed to bring great merit.