Tshechu
Also called Paro Tshechu, Thimphu Tshechu, Tsechu
Masked dances in the courtyard of a fortress
What it is
Different towns, different months. Paro's is in spring and Thimphu's is in fall.
A tshechu is a Buddhist festival held at dzongs, the big fortress monasteries all over Bhutan. It honors Guru Rinpoche, who Bhutanese Buddhists believe helped bring Buddhism to the country. For several days, monks and locals perform masked dances called cham. Paro's and Thimphu's are the best known.
How people celebrate
Dancers in huge painted masks and silk robes spin around the courtyard.
Atsaras, masked clowns, joke around with the crowd between dances.
Families dress up in their best gho and kira and bring picnics.
At Paro, a giant painted cloth called a thongdrel is unrolled before sunrise on the last day.
Many Bhutanese believe that watching the dances clears away bad karma.
What people eat
- Ema datshi
- Chilies cooked in cheese, Bhutan's national dish.
- Red rice
- A nutty rice grown in Bhutan's valleys.
- Momos
- Dumplings filled with cheese, vegetables or meat.
Did you know?
The Paro thongdrel goes up around 3 a.m. and comes down early in the morning, and people believe just seeing it brings blessings.