Tshechu, meaning “tenth day”, is a religious festival held every year in various temples, monasteries and dzongs throughout the country.
The Tshechu is a religious event held on the tenth day of a month in the lunar calendar, marking the birthday of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). However, the exact month of the Tshechu varies from place to place and temple to temple.
Tshechus are grand events where entire communities come together to witness religious mask dances, receive blessings and socialize. In addition to the mask dances, tshechus also include colorful Bhutanese dances and other forms of entertainment.
It is believed that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins. 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.
The Paro and Thimphu Tshechus are the two biggest in the country. Besides the locals, many tourists from across the world are attracted to these unique, colorful and exciting displays of traditional culture.
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