Tshechu

Tshechus are religious festivals of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingma teacher Padmasambhava and other saints.

The monks are generally very precise in their movement, while some roles played by laymen involve considerable athleticism (such as the leaping dog shown below, who repeats this move over and over again).

Most tshechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel - a large appliqué thangka typically depicting a seated Padmasambhava surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is said to cleanse the viewer of sin.

Padmasambhava performed a series of such dances in the Bumthang Valley to restore the health of the king.

Devotees who gather to witness this occasion offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings.