|
Religious festivals are very numerous
and have different names according to
their types, the best known being the TSHECHUS,
which are festivals in honour of Guru
Rimpoche, commemorating his great deeds.
These great deeds are all believed to
have taken place on the tenth of the
month, which is the meaning of the word
Tshechu, even though all Tshechu do
not take place on the tenth days. The
Dzongs come to life with colour, music
and dancing, as the valley dwellers and
town folks dress in their best clothes
and join together to exorcise evil
spirits and rejoice in a new harvest.
Rare masked and sword dances and other
rituals are performed in the Dzongs
courtyards and temples. Tshehu are
celebrated for several days, between
three and five according to the
location, and are the occasion for
dances that are clearly defined in
religious content. They can be performed
by monks, laymen or gomchens, and the
repertory is the same practically
everywhere. Certain Tshechu end with the
unveiling and worship of huge religious
applique or thongdrels (Thangka)
representing Guru Rim and his Eight
Manifestations.
|
