Bhutan to host first Paro Tshechu festival 2023, helps to revive tourism industry

Bhutan: Bhutan is all set to host Punakha Tshechu Festival 2023 from April 2 to April 3, 2023. The five-day festival will be held at Rinpung Dzong in Paro,(the international airport district of the country) during the spring season.

The international airport district of Bhutan will be filled with colours, music and dance. The Punakha Tshechu Festival is the biggest and most popular festival and is famously held in spring on the 10^th day of the second Bhutanese lunar month. While working as a major tourist attraction across the globe, the festival is known for its spectacular performances and showcasing of the rich heritage and culture of the country.

Bhutan is a place which is known for its culture and festivals as they celebrate their heritage with massive and big events which included great activities and performances. Punakha Tshechu Festival is one such festival that brings a sign of positivity and happiness to the people of Bhutan. However, the festival is usually held for three days in the courtyard of the majestic Punakha Dzong to honour Guru Rinpoche.

The five days of the festival will feature various activities and will bring a new bustle of the festive and spring season to the district. The first day of the festival will feature the mask dances inside the courtyard of Rinpung Dzong. On the second day, the courtyard outside the dzong hosts the festival.

The mask dances and traditional Bhutanese folk dances will be part of the festival and both monks and locals will perform at the festival. Further, the main attraction of the festival will be the unfurling of the immense embroidery of Guru Rinpoche (Guru Throngdrel). The final day will depict the life of the eight manifestations of Guru Rinpoche.

There is a three-story wall of giant embroidery and people of Bhutan queue up to get blessings from the Throngdrel every year. It is said that you can wash your sins by merely watching the artwork. The Paro Tshechu festival is all set to return to the shores of Bhutan after two years of hiatus due to lockdown and the COVID pandemic. Bhutan government is gearing up for the festival and hoping for the revival of the tourism industry as this is the peak tourist season.