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Festivals in Bhutan
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The dances are known
as Cham and are performed to bless onlookers, to teach them the
Buddhist dharma, to protect them from misfortune and to exorcise all
evil, the dancers who take on the aspects of wrathful and
compassionate deities, heroes, demons and animals do this. Shabdrung
Nawang Namgyel and Pema Lingpa were main figures who composed many
of the dances. It is believed that merit is gained by attending
these religious festivals.
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The dances invoke the
deities to wipe out misfortunes, increase luck and general personal
wishes. Onlookers rarely fail to notice the Atsara or clowns who move
through the crowds, mimicking the dancers and performing comic routines
in their masks with the long red noses. A group of ladies perform
traditional Bhutanese dances during the intervals between masked dances.
An auspicious event of the many of the Tshechus is the in furling of the
Thongdrel from the building overlooking the dance area. This is done before
sunrise and most people rush to witness the moment. Thongdrols are large
Thangkas or religious pictures that re usually embroidered rather than painted.
The word itself means, “liberation on sight”. It is believed that sins are wiped
away simply by viewing it.
Apart from its religious implications, the tshechu is also known as an annual
social gathering where people dress in their finest clothing and Jewellery.
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Please
click the link for the festival dates:
FESTIVAL DATES
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