Royal Bhutan
Festivals. Music, dance, rituals
Ura Yakchoe Festival, April
Ura Yakchoe is an unique festival which involves both the religious community and the farmers. The farmers celebrate the festival as a large gathering for all the inhabitants of Ura village. The festival dates back to the 11th century when the legend goes, the village was infested by leprosy which in Bhutan was believed to be caused by the serpent spirits. One day a lady was visited by an uninfected monk who asked for food. She was happy to oblige. When she came back from inside her house after getting the food, the monk had disappeared leaving a small statue of the wrathful form of Gura Rimpoche commonly known as Dorji Drolo, often manifested during subjugation of the evil spirits. The villagers gathered around this statue and decided to present it to the head Lama residing above the Ura village. When the Lama made his prayers to the statue, there was a great howling sound and the villagers saw a huge serpent leaving their village. The trail left by the serpent became the stream that now passes by the village. Consequently the village became free of leprosy. The statue is the main relic during the festival and can still be seen up to this day. To mark the day of the serpent leaving the valley, the villagers have continued to perform this festival as a special offering to the monk who disappeared.
Thimphu Tsechu Festival, October
Enjoy the Thimpu Tsechu Festival staged in the courtyard of the great Tashicho Dzong Palace which houses the offices of the King and summer residences the Je Khenpo. The spritual head of Bhutan witnesses the festival proceedings. The Tsechus have spiritual connotations, and Buddhist practitioners perceive a symbolic communion between dancers and spectators. Those attuned to the faith can feel the spiritual powers evoked by the dancers dressed in elaborate, often ancient, costumes, masks and headgear. Apart from monk dancers, community folk dancers and singers also perform during the Tsechus. The Bhutanese people consider it a blessing to be able to watch the dances. Tsechus are held on auspicious days, on the tenth day of the Bhutanese month, and last up to four days in which a series of highly stylised masked dance rituals are performed. The dances are well known and loved by the Bhutanese who come dressed in their best for the very special social occasion for all Bhutanese families. At the culmination of the festival if you are fortunate you might view the rare display of the stunning “Thangka”, a four-stories-tall silk scroll painting.
