Packed with detailed preplanning information, amazing experiences, inspirational images, city walks and the best local knowledge, these are our most comprehensive country guides, designed to immerse you in a culture, discover the best sights and get off the beaten track. I really enjoyed the tsechu pictures because they captured not just young bhutanese in their sunday best and a chilip in a gho but all sorts of people from all ages, parts of bhutan, and backgrounds. It is also a time of religious devotion and of large, busy markets. The most popular ones are the tsechu festivals tsechu literally means the tenth day of the lunar calendar when guru rinpoche, the patron saint of bhutan, was born though the exact time when it is celebrated may vary according to the temple or place. Experience this natural haven in its most undisturbed form. Our 10day thimphu tsechu sojourn is designed to take in the major sights of paro, thimphu, punakha, and gangtey alongside the great festival. The event encapsulates the essence of the traditional arts and crafts of bhutan and its culture. Bhutan is a country with a strong buddhist foundation. The tsechu is one of the best ways to experience the ancient living culture of bhutan. Tshechu, meaning day 10 are yearly religious bhutanese festivals. One of the biggest festivals in the country is the thimphu tshechu. There is a sequence of dances at paro tshechu conducted over two days.
Celebrations in the land of the thunder dragon are rich and upbeat articulations of its old buddhist culture. In the 1950s some changes were introduced in thimphu tshechu by the 3rd king of bhutan, jigme dorji wangchuck. Let more people know about this vibrant, significant festival by using the shining social gadgets to the right. Thimphu tsechu was initiated by the 4th druk desi secular ruler of bhutan, gyalse tenzin rabgay in the 17th century. Thimphu festival description, schedule and their significance. We can design your trip to bhutan by focusing on one tsechu and mixing it with other attractions. Tsechu means tenth day and is used in much the same way as festival is used in english.
The architect used local craftsmen and numerous artisans to work side by side in creating the space, as traditional construction is based on artistic temper and classical measure, not drawings, using dolep granite stone slabs, blue pine wood, brass hardware. The thimphu tshechu, as all tshechu festivals, honors padma sambhawa, also known as guru rimpoche, the precious yogi and saint who is credited with having introduced tantric buddhism throughout the himalayas. Bhutan festival dates 2020 exact calendar, thimphu festival 2020. The festivals masked dances are performed by monks clad in colorful brocade attire and permeated by chants and reading of buddhist scripts. Once we dropped our stuff off at the aman and had lunch, we made our way to the tashichho dzong fortressmonastery where the annual tsechu festival was being held. It has been held annually since the consecration of paro dzong in. Thimphu tsechu was initiated by the 4th desi, gyalse tenzin rabgay in 1867 and later some changes were introduced in thimphu tshechu in the 1950s by the third kingof bhutan, jigme dorji wangchuck.
I am looking at joining a group tour that will happen to be in paro during the 2018 festival, but is not specifically planned around it. Once every year, a dzong or most important village may hold a religious festival, or tsechu. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Lopon tsechu rinpoche 1918, bhutan june 10, 2003 was a master of tibetan buddhism, widely regarded in the himalayas, with many students in both the east and the west. Thimphu tsechu article about thimphu tsechu by the free.
Australia differs a lot from the bhutanese culture in modern bhutan, and features from both cultures are. Tsechu are annual religious bhutanese festivals usually around october. Experience the best of both worlds, delving into one of bhutans largest and most intoxicating festivals and then immersing yourself in the spectacular natural beauty on several day hikes. Bhutan festivals calendar 2019 travel to bhutan druk asia. The thimphu tsechu is the largest and most spectacular valley festival in the himalayas.
During festival dates, flights are easily fully few months before. Punakha tsechu explore the beauty of bhutan ace the. The highlight of thimphu tsechu is the showcase of ethnic folk dance in the famous tashichho dzong in thimphu. Bhutan festival tour dates 2020 exact calendar for tours 2020. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. A guide to festivals of bhutan plan your trip audley travel.
Explore thimphu holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Bhutan thimphu tsechu festival 06 nights 07 days day 01 paro thimphu arrive at paro airport pbh, your visa will be stamped on your passport at the immigration counter, your guide and driver shall meet and greet you at the exit gate, they shall assist with your luggage and drive you to thimphu 55km. Bhutan festival dates listed is provided by bhutan tourism council and tour operators association of bhutan. Read audleys guide to festivals of bhutan with recommendations for memorable travel. Bhutan western bhutan download lonely planet ebook lonely. I am trying to work out whether i will be able to check out the festival in the free time or whether i should. Free standard delivery via ups ground is automatically applied to all orders. Spectacular bhutanese mask dances are a highlight of our photographic excursion into this timeless world. Thimphu tshechu in thimphu in 2020 office holidays. In the affected city, it is a day off for the general population, and schools and most businesses are closed. Bhutan festival dates 2020 exact calendar, thimphu. Punakha drubchen and tsechu details windhorse tours. The thimphu tsechu is bhutans biggest and grandest festival.
Punakha dromchoe is a eight days long festival dedicated to the goddess mahakala. This thimphu festival is witnessed by thousands of people from all over bhutan. Wind horse travel thimphu tsechu festival is preceded by threeday dromchoe only open to bhutanese. Usually tours are lined up around a particular festival. Apr 04, 2017 paro tsechu is one of the biggest tantric buddhism festivals in the bhutanese calendar. Monk at prakar tsechu festival, bumthang area, bhutan monk at prakar tsechu festival, bumthang area, bhutan saved. The constitution of the kingdom of bhutan national council. As some of the festivals are small village events, the dates may be tentative and change without notice. Bhutanese introduction, location, language, folklore. Tsechu dancers, paro dzong, bhutan cloaked in long, colorful costumes, a troupe of bhutanese dancers resemble spinning tops as they celebrate at a buddhist festival or tsechu in the courtyard of paro dzong.
Bhutanese is the name given to the people who live in the kingdom of bhutan. The tsechu is a festival in honor of guru padmasambava one who was born from a lotus flower, popularly known as guru rinpoche, the precious teacher. This festival is a ceremony of colors with a happy amalgamation of the changing nature and the many moods of the bhutanese culture. Pdf this volume by khenpo phuntsok tashi, the current head of the.
It is a sovereign independent country and one that is rich in age. There is a small muslim population in bhutan, covering 0. The isolated kingdom of bhutan joseph van os photo safaris. Thimphu tsechu 2019 in bhutan, photos, festival, religion. Tsechus are held on auspicious days and months in the bhutanese calendar, and last up to four days in which a series of highly stylised masked. Strung out along the wang chhu, thimphu is bhutan s own minimetropolis, an expanding bubble of shopping complexes, monasteries and chaletlike apartment buildings that reverts quickly to bluepine forest at the city limits. The paro tsechu is held in the courtyard of the dzong, except for the final day. The tshechu is a religious event celebrated on tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar corresponding to the birthday of guru rimpoche guru padmasambhava. Thimphu tsechu septemberoctober thimphu tsechu is a threeday festival of religious ceremonies and costumed dances held in thimphu, the capital city of bhutan.
View topquality stock photos of dancers at chukha tsechu in bhutan. Tsechu festival thimphu bhutan dating, a profile for online dating, followers gratis netdating, what is considered long distance dating website. A guide to the tsechu festivals of bhutan sodha travel. The name bhutan is derived from a word that means the borderland of bhot, or. Receive exclusive updates and offers from druk asia we will never spam you or share your contact information with third parties. Like other tsechus, it held to honour guru rinpoche, who spread tantric buddhism, that is practiced all over himalayas. Since tsechu is celebrated widely in bhutan at different dates, feel free to contact me at if you have any questions or requirements. Tsechus are religious as well as large social bhutanese gathhering. Locals gather in a spirit of festivity, celebration and deep faith to witness unique masked dances and celebrations.
A highlight of the paro tsechu is the unfurling of the silk thangka so large it covers the face of an entire building and is considered one of the most sacred blessings in the whole of bhutan. During the festival, monks and laymen perform mask dances over a stretch of three to five days in a. We traveled from paro to bhutan s capital and largest city. The tshechu in thimphu is the secondlargest in the nation, and people from all over bhutan attend, along with thousands from all over the world. Featuring socalled mask dances, these festivals are held in buddhist temples and monasteries, and are religious occasions for prayer and blessings. Monk at prakar tsechu festival, bumthang area, bhutan. After selecting the best bhutanese tour company for you, the next thing to do is to decide when youre going to go. The highlight of this tour is the punakha tsechu festival consisting of typical masked dances which are very colourful and interesting, the events and enactments are different on each day. Women wearing traditional kira dresses dancing at the jakar tsechu on oct.
The religious aspects are performed in the same manner as in early times. A tsechu is performed as a tribute to guru rimpoche, a great buddhist master who brought buddhism to bhutan. Note that dates for festivals can vary by several weeks each year especially if they are adjusted to conform to auspicious dates. You can reserve your ticket for free with us and plan your trip to bhutan with a peace of mind. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century nyingma teacher padmasambhava and other saints. Paro festival attracts alot of locals and foreginers. Bhutan thimphu download lonely planet ebook lonely. Second day of the thimphu tsechu, bhutan bob witlox. Bhutan festival schedules and dates for bhutan tsechu.
Wind horse travel paro tsechu festival is one of the biggest event in bhutan. If you are planning for it, please confirm your plan soon. Bhutan has many indigenous celebrations apart from the usually observed government and national holidays. Villagers from the surrounding district come for several days of. This festival is held in the capital city for three days beginning on 10th day of the 8th month of lunar calendar.
Includes bibliographical references page 126 and index. Due to limited flight and seats available, we recommend you to reserve your ticket as early as possible. The tshechu for bhutan s capital, thimpu is an important threeday festival. Experience the best of both worlds, delving into one of bhutan s largest and most intoxicating festivals and then immersing yourself. The mystical kingdom of bhutan 2017 spirit is calling. A tshechu or tsechu is an annual religious bhutanese festival held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar tibetan calendar. Use this calendar to plan your upcoming trip and witness a festival when you are in bhutan. Tshechu is a religious festival meaning tenth day held annually in various temples, monasteries and dzongs throughout the country. Jakar tshechu, dzongkhag dancers a tshechu or tsechu is an annual religious bhutanese festival held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar tibetan calendar. Bhutan festivals calendar 2020 travel to bhutan druk asia. Dancers at chukha tsechu in bhutan highres stock photo. The international territorial boundary of bhutan is inviolable and.
You are viewing a country guide what is a country guide. Bhutan festivals dates 2018 book bhutan festival tour. In spring the rhododendrons in the surrounding hills erupt in blossom and the je khenpo leads the annual procession of monks from punakha to their summer residence in thimphu. Mar 27, 2016 the sevenstorey watchtower, the ta dzong, on the hill above the dzong, now houses the national museum of bhutan. The highlight of the paro tshechu is the unfurling of the thongdrel on the final day. Bhutan is a small, landlocked country in the mountainous area north of india. There is at least one every month almost ensuring that you have an opportunity to experience one. I would think at least half a day at the festival in the morning should be sufficient.
For a summary of major festivals held in bhutan see p 19. Paro tsechu is one of the biggest tantric buddhism festivals in the bhutanese calendar. Many of the dances performed at the tsechu are designed to teach lessons about how ones behavior on earth affects the. Typically, monks perform unmasked in certain group dances, including the black hat dance, while laymen perform masked, in largely different plays. The form of government shall be that of a democratic constitutional monarchy. The sevenstorey watchtower, the ta dzong, on the hill above the dzong, now houses. A tsechu is a buddhist festival in honour of guru rimpoche, the saint who brought buddhism to bhutan. This tshechu is witnessed by thousands of people many of which travel from neighboring dzongkhags districts to attend the festivities. The thimphu tsechu is bhutan s biggest and grandest festival. Bangkok post, oct 24, 2005 the sacred monk dances of bhutan offer both a visual feast for the eyes and a spiritual experience for the soul. Bhutan festival dates and description of each festivals held in bhutan.
Tshechu is an important festival when mask dances, popularly known as cham dances, are. Bhutan festival schedules and dates for, bhutan tshechu, paro tsechu, thimphu festivals, bumthang festivals. The central feature of every tshechu is the cham dancing. Tsechus are religious festivals, but also large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spreadout villages. Paro festival description, schedule and their significance. While many mask dances are performed, the local folk dances performed are very unique and distinct adding to the festive mood of the celebration. Bhutan is a sovereign kingdom and the sovereign power belongs to the people of bhutan. Bhutan, land of the thunderdragon, is a true living kingdom full of high mountain vistas, welcoming people, and colorful festivals. Many of the dances performed at the tsechu are designed to teach lessons about how ones behavior on.
Paro tsechu is held from 1115 of 2nd month in bhutanese calendar. Punakha is located in the western part of bhutan and this place has critical importance in the history of bhutan since the time of zhabdrung ngawang namgyel, the buddhist saint who unified bhutan, in. Find premium, highresolution stock photography at getty images. The interesting thing about the dzong is that there is a water tower four stairs down behind the dzong leading to a water reservoir used for drawing water during battle times in olden days. Paro tshechu is one of the most popular festivals in bhutan, held annually since the 17th century when zhabdrung ngawang namgyal, the founder of the state of. Thimphu tsechu is a threeday festival of religious ceremonies and costumed dances held in thimphu, the capital city of bhutan. At the break of dawn, the giant applique scroll is unfurled for public display. Festivals or tshechu are a major part of bhutanese life and offer a unique cultural insight into this himalayan kingdom. If you click on the name of particular bhutan festival, you will find more details such daily program, photos, videos and more. The book was completed on the day padmasambhavas thondrol large portrait image was unfurled at the paro tshechu festival. Sources say guru rimpoche healed a king called sindhu raja by performing eight forms of dances representing eight manifestations of padmasambhava in the bumthang valley to restore the health of the king. This page was last edited on 30 september 2019, at 19. The tsechu festivals of bhutan are a thriving ancient tradition that counts among the most compelling sights in the world. Like most festival, this four day thimphu tsechu festival is held to honour guru rinpoche, who in 8th century contributed to diffusion of tantric bud.
These celebrations are held in all locale to pay tribute to guru rinpoche, the holy person who acquainted buddhism with bhutan. While traveling to bhutan s central valleys, our journey takes us through farming villages with photogenic terraced. During this adventure you will explore paro, get up close and personal with one of bhutans most sacred mountains, jhomolhari goddess of mountain, a spectacular site peaking at 7314 meters, and visit the nations capital during the thimphu tsechu. You can reserve your ticket for free with us and plan your trip to bhutan with a peace of mind knowing that you will have a spot on your flight to bhutan. Basic health facilities are provided free of any charge to all citizens in bhutan. Bhutan street fashion is a really great blog if you want a look into bhutan attire. Before you schedule a trip around a speci c festival, check with a tour operator or the tourism council of bhutan for the correct dates. The gasa tshechu is the biggest festival in the small district of gasa in northwest bhutan. Health services are provided free to all bhutanese. Like hard to see and have to get there super early. Thimphu tsechu is by all means one of the biggest festivals in the capital of bhutan. These celebrations are held in all locale to pay tribute to guru rinpoche, the holy person who acquainted buddhism with bhutan in the eighth century. Tshechu are annual religious bhutanese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of bhutan. If you are able to visit dochula pass in time for dochula druk wangyel tsechu, youll get to witness bhutans rich culture and tradition firsthand.