In all the Himalayas, the ancient dancers of the region have been most faithfully preserved in Bhutan. The colour and the extraordinary grace of these dramatic and energetic dancers is truly one to remember. Just imagine the rhythmic sounds of the drums, trumpets, pipes, symbols and gongs, rainbow of dancers leaping high in the air, skirts swirling and hands moving in the rhythm of time lapse. See here.
The Tshechu is a religious event celebrated on tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar corresponding to the birthday of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava). However the exact month of the Tshechu varies from place to place and temple to temple.
It is believed that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once to in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins. Every mask dance performed during a Tshechu has a special meaning or a story behind it and many are based on stories and incidents from as long ago as the 8th century, during the life of Guru Padmasambhava.
In monasteries the mask dances are performed by monks and in remote villages they are performed jointly by monks and village men.
