Overview:

Trashigang Tshechu is an annual Buddhist festival held in Trashigang, Bhutan. The festival is celebrated in the second month of the Bhutanese calendar and is usually attended by thousands of people from all over the country. During the festival, mask dances, folk dances, as well as traditional worshipping and offering of prayers are performed. The festival is also a way for the local community to show their rich cultural heritage. It is also a time to appreciate Bhutan's rich monastic tradition and its deeply embedded beliefs. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Bhutan
Prominent Features:

• Rich Cultural Festivities: The Trashigang Tshechu is one of the most important festivals in Bhutan which features different forms of cultural performances and rituals. • Mask Dances: Masked dances are one of the major highlights of this festival. Dancers wear bright and colourful masks which represent different spiritual deities and perform graceful choreography. • Symbolic Offering Ceremonies: The locals observe offering ceremonies in front of the local monasteries and sacred shrines. Offerings of food, fruits and incense are made as an act of respect and gratitude. • Fire Ceremonies: Large bonfires are lit in veneration, typically accompanied by the chanting of mantras. This national monument of Bhutan portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Trashigang Tshechu is one of the oldest festivals in Bhutan. It is believed to have been introduced by the 17th century Tibetan saint, Pema Lingpa. The tshechu is held in the Trashigang district of Bhutan, and it is celebrated once every year in the eighth lunar month. During the festival, people dress in their best traditional clothes and take part in several rituals and performances. The main attraction during the festival is the Cham Dance, which is performed by monks and laypeople. Other traditional dances and mask dances are also performed during the festival. Every day of the festival has its own significance, and the main day, which is known as the Tshechu Gyalpo, feature religious rituals, flag-hoisting, masked dances, incantation, traditional music and songs, prayer offerings and other traditional performances. The festival ends with the symbolic burning of a wooden phallus, which signifies the purification of the local environment. Additionally, local crafts such as prayer wheel and paintings are also sold in the market during the festival. You must visit one of these historical places in Bhutan on your Bhutan tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Trashigang Tshechu is the annual festival in Trashigang, Bhutan’s easternmost district in Bhutan located on the Indian border. 2. The main festivities of the Trashigang Tshechu are based on ancient Buddhist beliefs and traditions and are intended to bring peace, prosperity and goodwill. 3. A popular ritual during the Trashigang Tshecu is the Thongdroel ceremony, a religious ceremony to purify the area from negative influences in which large amounts of cash and liquor are offered to the local gods. 4. In 2020, the Trashigang Tshechu was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 5. The Trashigang Tschecu is held in honour of the 8th-century Buddhist saint, Guru Padmasambhava, who is believed to have come and spread Buddhism in Bhutan. 6. The Trashigang Tshechu consists of a series of colorful mask dances, traditional dances, and various religious ceremonies. 7. The actual event takes place over seven days, beginning on the 10th day of the Bhutanese lunar month. 8. During the Trashigang Tshechu, there are huge feasts with local delicacies and traditional Bhutanese meals. Visit one of the famous monuments of Bhutan with your friends and family.