A taste of cultural richness of Bhutan - Thimphu Tshechu 2018

"A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the soul of its people."- Mahatma Gandhi

In order to truly understand the people of a different community or country,there is no better way than to immerse oneself in their culture & traditions.Bhutan being a small & mountainous land locked country,their local traditions & culture have been unadulterated for centuries.

The roots of Tshechu goes deep into the chronology of Bhutan.As per history,Guru Rinpoche visited Tibet & Bhutan during 8th and 9th century.During his visit,he came across the dying king of Bumthang,Sindhu Raja. To restore his health,the Guru performed a series of dances across the country.After the king's health was restored,he spread Buddhism & teachings of the Guru all over Bhutan in the Guru's honor.
In order to pay respect to the Guru & his contributions,every year the Bhutanese people celebrate the festival of dance at different parts of the country.Its their firm belief,that all theirs sins will be washed away & the upcoming year would be prosperous if they follow this tradition.

This year,I was lucky enough to plan my trip to Bhutan during the Thimphu Tshechu,which was held 19th to 21st September.There was a feeling of anticipation & excitement from the previous day.Everyone was preparing for the Tshechu at Thimphu.We could feel why it was their largest festival.

We woke up early in the morning to leave for the Thimphu Dzong. The fresh morning air welcomed us with a sense of calmness & happiness,making us feel the special moment.

Thimphu Chuu

Tashicchodzong

The Thimphu Tshechu was established on 1670 by their 4th ruler,Tenzing Rabgye (1638-1696),to commemorate the birth of Guru Rinpoche.It is held in the courtyard of Tashichhodzong,and also considered as one of the most beautiful Tshechus.Also its one of the easiest ones to access by foreigners.

Our guide explained to us about their traditional attires,called Gho,with different colored scarves according to their positions or ranks in the social ladder.Even on reaching the dzong quite early,we found it to be nearly full.We then heard that many seats are even occupied from the night before.

It was also a time of great fun & frolic,specially for the kids.The local people even brought snacks with them,to have a picnic on the sides & enjoying the festival at the same time.

The traditional Masked Dance

The bright red characters in front are called Atsaras.Their role is to liven up the festival with jokes,witty behaviors & exaggerated movements.They also help to explain the meaning of the masked dances to the spectators.

If anyone is planning to visit Bhutan,my advise is to plan their itinenary according to the dates of the Tshechu. Because that way,you can get a taste of the richness of their local culture & traditions,which perfectly compliments the natural beauty of the The Land of Thunder Dragon.

I forgot to mention about the entry procedure.If you have booked your trip through a travel agency or have taken a guide,then there is no separate fee.Or if you plan yourself,like we did,there is a entry fee of Rs 300 per person.