Tsechus are religious festivals typically 3-4 days long held
in every Bhutanese town or district in honour of Guru Rinpoche, also known as
Padmasambhava, who brought Tantric Buddhism to the Himalayan regions of Bhutan,
Tibet, Nepal and Ladakh around 800 A.D.. Tsechus first arose in the 16th
century and comprise of dances depicting stories of Guru Rinpoche's life and
exploits, as well as moral tales and folklore. Bhutanese believe that by
watching a tsechu, they gain religious merits. When tsechu is held in a
district, public holidays will be proclaim and everyone dress in their best
national costumes to go to the dzong to watch the tsechus. Sept/Oct is the
period with the largest tsechus, hence the most popular time of the year for
tourists to visit Bhutan.
Mask
dance: Stag & the Hounds (Shawa Shachi)
-story of how the
saint Milarepa converted a hunter to Buddhism
Dance
of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholey Moley)
-
This dance
depicts how two princess whose husbands went off to war flirted with a jester
and then got their noses cut off by their returning husbands as punishment! An
old woman who was supposed to look after the princesses also had her nose cut. A
doctor is then called to put the noses back but the old woman stinks so much
that the doctor has to use a stick. Finally, the princes married the princesses
and everybody was reconciled. Moral of the story? Maybe one should
not flirt when partners are not around!
Dance
of the Judgement of the Dead (Raksha Mangcham)
-
Another
spectacular mask dance at the Tsechu. From this
site: This is based on the Bardo Thoedrol (Book of the Dead), a text hidden
by Guru Rinpoche and rediscovered later by Karma Lingpa (14th
century).
When all beings die, they wander in the Bardo (‘Intermediate State’) waiting
to be led by the love of the Buddhas into the pure state where no sufferings
exists. However, when the Buddhas who assume with their peaceful,and terrifying
forms appear to greet them, the men who duringtheir lifetime had no fervent adoration for the Buddhist Doctrine, do not
recognize them as Buddhas and are frightened. As the men do not recognize the
Buddhas and think they are enemies, they cannot be conducted into the paradise.
The Buddhas, however through their various manifestations do not stay
indifferent and perform good deeds unto the beings until the cycle of rebirth is
complete.
The tales and opinions expressed on this site are the
author’s and by their very nature, personal and opinionated.
You may not agree with them and you are welcomed to voice them by emailing to
the author. However, if the intention is to pick a
fight, such efforts should be directed to soc.culture newsgroups. The author
will not entertain anyone who furl insults and vulgarities. The names of
individuals mentioned in this site have been changed to maintain their
privacy.
Tan Wee Cheng, Singapore 
weecheng.com
Kingdom
of Bhutan 2006 
