Tsechu-Annual Rituals

Tsechu is an annual religious festival in Bhutan, typically held in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the patron saint of Bhutan. The festival involves colorful masked dances, traditional music, and cultural performances, and it is considered an important event in Bhutanese culture. 

Similarly, the Samtse Dzongkhag three-day annual Tsechu which was held in the public ground begins on the 20th and ends on the 23rd of November with the unfurling of Guru Tshengye thongdrel to the public. It was an opportunity for the students, and staff of Samtse College of Education, students of high and secondary students, and local community people to witness the mask dances especially Guru Tshengye Cham, or dance of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche on the final day. Other mask dances were also performed such as Pacham, Durdag, Ging, and Tsholing, the Rigma Chudru Cham which were performed by the Dzongkhag dancers.

Tsechu is a time for people to come together to celebrate their faith, culture, and community, and it is an important part of Bhutanese identity and tradition. People from different places such as Norbugang, Tendruk, Sibsoo, and Dorokha were witnessing the mask dances apart from people of local communities. However, unlike other years, the local communities shared that the number of people witnessing the mask dances has decreased over the years especially this year because of the upcoming election where people are not allowed to set up shops. Moreover, it is said that the population of Samtse districts is decreasing yearly, and people show less importance to culture.

So, attending the Tsechu is a unique and immersive experience that allows visitors to witness the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan and participate in the country's annual rituals.