Monastic festival Tsechu in Bhutan
Paro is a city in western Bhutan with a population of 15 000 inhabitants, located at an altitude of 2,400 meters. Here, richly carved, painted wood distinguishes Paro Dzong, a fortress-monastery in Bhutan that sits above the town of Paro and serves as its religious center. A tiny Buddhist kingdom in the Himalaya, traditionally isolated Bhutan has in recent years become the tourist destination. A balance of playful yellow and passionate red, orange attract attention of hundreds of tourists who arrive in Paro during the annual monastic festivals (Tsechu).

The Tshechu is a religious event celebrated on tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar. The exact month of the Tshechu varies from place to place and temple to temple. In addition to the mask dances tshechu also include colorful Bhutanese dances and other forms of entertainment.

Every mask dance performed during a Tshechu has a special meaning or a story behind it and many are based on stories and incidents from as long ago as the 8th century, during the life of Guru Padmasambhava. In monasteries the mask dances are performed by monks and in remote villages they are performed jointly by monks and village men.

Novice monks with mask. It is believed that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once to in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins.

Monastic festival Tsechu in Bhutan

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