CULTURE
BHUTAN has a profound cultural diversity.
With more than 80% of the country being Buddhists, the ways of the Buddhist
practice has had a huge impact on the Bhutanese culture. The influence of
Buddhism is very visible in the everyday life of the of t Bhutanese people.
The country boasts of thousands of
monasteries and the landscape is dotted with stupas, prayer wheels, prayer
flags and many other insignias celebrating the Buddhist religion.
The preservation of culture has always been
accorded the highest of priorities and it was outlined as one of the 4 main
pillars of the country’s unique development philosophy of Gross National
Happiness.
Tsechu is a religious festival that begins
on the 10th day of the Bhutanese calendar.
During the festival, monks and laymen
perform mask dances over s stretch of 3 to 5 days in a temple or monastery; the
mask dances are performed to commemorate the life of Guru Padmasambhava and
other great Buddhist masters.
Tshechus customarily conclude with the
unfurling of a Thongdrel (large scroll painting of Lord Buddha, Guru Rinpoche,
Zhabdrung and other enlightened beings. Tshechus are grand event where entire
communities come together to witness religious mask dances, receive blessings
and socialize. Besides the religious dances and songs, atsaras are major
attractions during the tshechu. Atsaras usually don hilarious looking masks
with large protruding noses and often with a phallus dangling from the head.
They signify enlightened wisdom and their acts intended to cleanse the collective
sin of the people gathered to witness the religious dances.
The festival is also an occasion for people
to wear their best finery, socialize and make merry. More importantly, people
attend tshechus to gain merit.
DZONGS
DZONGS or fortresses are castle –like
structures that were built as defensive forts against external invasions.
Located on ridges and hilltops, dzongs are symbolic of Bhutan’s rich history
and are valued as national heritage.
Dzongs showcase the brilliance of Butans’s
unique architectural designs. Today, the dzongs serve as the office of local
civil administration and also house the monastic community.
