This dzong is situated in the central town of Trongsa, which is part of the Nubi gewog in the Trongsa district. The Bhutanese Tshechu festival holds a special focus on honoring Padmasambhava and commemorates his accomplishments through the performance of sacred dances.
The Trongsa Tshechu is a festival that celebrates the arrival of Guru Rimpoche in Bhutan in the 8th century. It is one of the oldest tshechus in Bhutan and is held annually in the northern courtyard of the Trongsa Dzong fortress in central Bhutan.
History
The festival is believed to have spread tshechus to other parts of Bhutan.
Location
The Trongsa Dzong is located in Trongsa, the ancestral home of the Royal Family of Bhutan.
Date
The festival is held in December or January, from the 9th to 11th day of the 11th lunar month in the Bhutanese calendar.
Activities
The festival includes traditional mask dances, the unfurling of the sacred Thongdrol, and blessings from high ranking monks.
Significance
The festival celebrates the triumph of Buddhism over evil.
Why it’s important?
The Trongsa Tshechu is one of the oldest tshechus in Bhutan and is considered to be the most divine and symbolic of all the Buddhist festivals in the country. It’s believed that tshechus in other parts of Bhutan originated from Trongsa Dzongkhag.
What to expect?
The dances and costumes have remained unchanged for thousands of years.
