Thimphu Tshechu
The Tsechu is a religious festival in honour of Guru Rinpoche. The Bhutanese dressed in their finest, come from all over for the festivities of the Thimphu Tshechu. It is believed that one who witnesses the tsechu is blessed. The festival is performed in the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong. All dances inthe programme have religious significance. In between, folk dances are performed. Each day’s festivities begin at eight in the morning and continue till late afternoon, with lunch break in between.
Day ONE
| Shacham Dance of the Four Stags | Costume: Knee-length skirts, masks of stags. The dance commemorates the subjugation of the God of the Wind by Guru Rinpoche who commandeers the gods stag as his own mount. |
| Peling Ging Sum Dance of the three kinds of Ging | Costume: Knee-length skirts. The first part of the dance is performed with sticks and animal masks; the second with swords and fierce masks. The dance is performed to bring good luck and happiness to all beings, considered as blessings and are connected with religious ceremonies. |
| Pacham Dance of the Heroes | Costume: Knee-length yellow skirts and golden crowns. No masks They hold small bells (Drilbu) and drums (Damaru). The dance is performed to lead believers of the human world into the presence of Guru Rinpoche. |
| Shawa Shachi Dance of the stag and the Hounds | The dance depicts the conversion to Buddhism of a hunter named Gonpo Dorji by the great saint Milarepa. More like a theatrical play than the other dances, it is very long and is usually performed in two parts, each of which concludes one day of the festival. |
| Dramyen Hem Dance of the Lute | Costume: Elaborate with heavy woolen clothes (traditional felt boots, long black skirt, yellow shirt, brown coat) sword and a circular head dress. One dance holds a traditional lute called Dramyen. The dance celebrates the founding of the Drukpa School. |
