September 22: Thousands of people from in and around Thimphu and tourists gathered at the Tashichodzong to witness the annual Thimphu Tshechu yesterday.
The annual Thimphu Tshechu drew thousands of spectators as usual. The crowd gathered at the courtyard of Tashichodzong was huge but the number of people was slightly less this time. Even the queue outside the Tshichodzong as people waited to get inside the courtyard was shorter.
The tshechu was broadcast LIVE by BBS TV. It has also prevented people from having to return home disappointed not being able to get inside the courtyard.
It has enabled elderly and those living far away from Thimphu to sit comfortably at their homes and watch the sacred mask dances LIVE on their television screens.
The Royal Academy of performing Arts is one of the organizers of the festival. The Academy’s Principal Thinley Jamtsho said accommodating spectators inside the courtyard during the Tshechu has been a problem. He said this time the problem has been solved because of the live coverage provided by BBS TV.
The highlight on the first day is the Zhana Chham or the Black hat dance performed by monks. It is believed that watching the dance helps to purify and help dissipate one’s mental obscurities accumulated over ages.
Dancers from the Royal Academy of performing arts also performed traditional dances. During the next three-days monks and laymen will perform various mask folk dances.
The three day annual Tshechu will conclude with the unfurling of the Guru Thongdrel.
