Events calendar Central And Eastern Bhutan

In eastern Bhutan, the Mongar Dzong Monastery attracts the locals who come for three days to watch traditional masked dances and participate in convivial lunches. There is a small difference, however, which has its charm: most of the dances you will attend at Mongar Tschechu are 100% local, you won't see them anywhere else! In this remote province of Bhutan, the event is eagerly awaited by local families, so it is not uncommon to see them dressed in their best attire!

In one of Bhutan's most famous monasteries, Thangbi Lhakang, founded in 1470 by Shamar Rinpoche, Chokki Drakpa, this three-day festival is reputed to bring peace and prosperity to families and ensure a better harvest for the entire community. The festival culminates in a fire blessing ceremony (Mewang), which is celebrated in the open air. Lay monks perform purification rituals while people jump over the flames to purify themselves. Masked dances are obviously part of the ceremony.

Situated in the Chokhor Valley, Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery in Bumtang is the former favourite resting place of the first three Bhutanese kings. Every year, a tschechu takes place there in June for one day to pay homage to Guru Rinpoche who is said to have meditated here for three months to drive out the local demon. The inhabitants of the surrounding villages, Jakar and Kurjey, flock to attend the chams performed by the monks of Kurjey Lhakhang. The festival ends with the display of a giant painting of Buddha.

For three days, this tschechu brings together all the inhabitants of eastern Bhutan, including the nomadic communities of Merak and Sakteng, known as the Brokpas, who stand out from the crowd with their unique outfits.

Various sacred mask dances are performed during the festival in addition to other traditional folk songs and dances. The highlight of the festival is Guru Tshengyed's Thongdrol (Guru Rinpoche's 8 events), followed by a second Thongdrol by Neten Chudrug.

Bordering the Tibetan region, Lhuenste is one of the easternmost districts of Bhutan. For three days in December, Lhuntse Dzong is the scene of a tschechu very appreciated by the Bhutanese of the extreme north-east of the country who come to cleanse their sins by watching masked dances. One can also observe the colourful Kushithara outfit for which the town of Lhuentse is famous. The program differs little from other tschechu: ritual dances and exhibition of thangkas. On the other hand, tourists are rather rare!

Since 1998, the Black-necked Crane Festival celebrates in the courtyard of Gangtey Monastery the return of these sacred birds from Tibet to spend the winter in Bhutan. The black-necked crane is an endangered species, particularly protected in Bhutan because, for the Bhutanese, they would be the reincarnation of the valley's protective gods. For the occasion, children dressed as cranes dance and parade. A way of combining nature conservation and festive spirit!