Thimphu Drupchen

Thimphu Drupchen also known as Lhamo Drupchen is a 2 week ritual performed by monks to appease the only female dharma protector Pelden Lhamo. Each morning monks gather at 3 a.m. in front of Pelden Lhamo’s shrine and perform prayers to promote happiness, longevity, and peace towards all beings. The prayers are accompanied by the Black Hat Dance every morning inside the main chapel of Tashichho Dzong to honor Pelden Lhamo and to eliminate evil forces. Tourists are not allowed to view these events and women cannot enter the shrine of Pelden Lhamo (inside the Dzong).

After the completion of the 2 week ritual, follows the three day Thimphu Drupchen which showcases the deity Pelden Lhamo and her manifestations for the public to view. Monks perform the dances during the Thimphu Drupchen and hence it is considered very sacred by the locals. Thimphu Drupchen takes place in the inner open courtyard of the Tashichho Dzong. 

Day 1: starts at 10 am

*Black Hat Dance (Shanag)

*Dance of Kasung Nyokha Yab-Yum:

(*Lord of Cremation Ground Dance (Durdag)

*Palden Lhamo Dance

Day 3:

*Lord of Cremation Ground Dance (Durdag)

*Assembly Dance of Protective Deities

Thimphu Tsechu

Following the Thimphu Drupchen, the four day Thimphu Tsechu begins on the 9th till the 12th of the 8th Bhutanese month. Like all tsechus, the Thimphu Tsechu is not a festival put on for entertainment but it is a series of scared events with the ultimate Buddhist intent to develop an enlightened mind in the attendees. From the year of its establishment in 1687 until 2007, Thimphu Tsechu was performed in the inner open courtyard of the Tashichho Dzong. With the increase in attendees, a new tsechu stadium was constructed as an extension to the Tashichho Dzong.  The new open air stadium named “Tendrel Thang” (Auspicious Ground) was built to coincide with the coronation of the Fifth King in 2008. Since then, the Thimphu Tsechu has been performed at the Tendrel Thang at Tashichho Dzong.

Day 1: All sacred dances on this day are of the bod cham category, meaning the ordinary people perform them (not monks).

1. Folk song
2. Four Stag Dance (Shacham)
3. Folk song
4. The Dance of the Three Kinds of Ging (Peling Ging Cum)
5. Folk song
6. Dance of the Heroes (Pacham)
7. Folk song
8. Stag and Hounds Dance (Shawo Shachhi)
9. Folk song
10. Dance of Dranyen (Guitar)

Day 2

1. Folk song
2. Black Hat Dance (Shana): Performed by monks
3. Folk song
4. Black Hat Dance with Drums: Performed by monks
5. Seeing-off Dance (Kyecham)
6. Dance of Charming Ladies and Noblemen (Pholey Moley)
7. Folk song
8. Drum Dance from Drametse
9. Folk song
10. Dance of the Stag and the Hounds (Shawo Shachhi)

Day 3:

There are 2 Dances that are performed by the monks and the rest are performed by ordinary people.

1. Folk song
2. Lord of Cremation Grounds Dance (Durdag): Performed by monks
3. Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Tungam): Performed by monks
4. Ox-Headed Dance (Raksha Gocham)
5. Folk song
6. Intermediate State Dance (Raksha Marcham)

Day 4:

Last day of the Tsechu

1. Folk song
2. Balkor: Performed by monks
3. Folk song
4. Dance of Tamshing in Bumthang (Bumthang Tarchem)
5. Folk Song
6. Lord of Cremation Ground Dance (Durdag)
7. The Dance of Ging and the Dance of Tsholing (Ging Tan Tsholing)
8. 2 Folk songs performed.
9. Dance of the Eight Manifestations of guru Padmasamabha (Guru Tshen Gye)
10. Sixteen Dakinis Dance with small bells and small drums: Performed by monks
11. Auspicious song (Tashi legphel): This defines the completion of Thimphu Tshechu