Tshechus are annul festivals held in every districts in
Bhutan. Being held just once a year it becomes a time
for people to leave everything behind and merry. It is the
only time when most rural folks get a respite from their
back breaking work. Families wait eagerly for this
event. Its even harder for youngsters to have the
patience when such events are a great opportunity
to see new dates and wear their Sunday best.
Tshechu, means the 10th day, its held on the 10th
day of the Bhutanese calander to commemorate
Guru Rinpoche's birthday. Guru Rinpoche, called
the second Buddha was a great saint who
introduced Buddhism in Bhutan. He was one of
the great scholars who studied in the great Nalanda
University (Bihar, India) which is in ruins now. Guru
Rinpoche visited Bhutan in the 7th century and walk the
entire length and breath of Bhutan propagating Buddhist
teachings.
The intricately hand woven dress worn during festivals
are especially saved for this special event. A single
female dress worn by a rich lady would be nothing less
than US$2000. Even the poorest have a dress which cost
about US$500. These are kind of dress which families
keep locked and are taken out only once a year for this
special event. Most families save for years to get one of
these dresses. Such dress remain a life time possession for the middle class people.
A finely woven female dress takes about an year to be hand woven.
These festivals are a feast for most eyes especially for tourists who get to experience a new culture and mingle with the locals. These festivals are marked with mask dances, folk dances, Buddhist rituals and an array of events.
