tshechu

Tshechu is a religious festival celebrated primarily in Bhutan and in Tibetan Buddhist communities in the Himalayan region. Held at monasteries and dzongs, it presents a sequence of masked dances and related rituals known as cham. Each Tshechu is scheduled on auspicious days according to the local lunar calendar, with the exact program varying by temple and district. The festival honors Guru Rinpoche, or Padmasambhava, and the dances recount episodes from his life and from Buddhist lore to convey spiritual teachings and moral values.

Performances are staged by monks and sometimes lay practitioners who wear ornate costumes and masks representing deities, animals, and legendary figures. The dances combine devotion, storytelling, and ritual, and are believed to purify the environment, bless the participants, and invite auspiciousness for the community. Spectators watch from open courtyards around the temple or dzong as the dances unfold on days of the festival.

Tshechu also serves as a social and cultural gathering, drawing families and communities together. Visitors partake in prayer, offerings, traditional foods, and music, making it one of the most important annual events in many regions.

Notable examples in Bhutan include Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu, each featuring its own set of cham performances. While most widely associated with Bhutan, Tshechu-style celebrations occur in other Himalayan areas with local variations in dances and repertoire.