Three days of traditional Bhutanese food cooked by local villagers, traditional spear and boomerang throwing, ‘human bull’ fights, a traditional hike and more were the highlights of the first folk festival, described by many as a “festival with a difference.”
Bhutan Folk Festival is a unique festival organised by ABTO to showcase the rich traditional heritage of Bhutan. It will take place in Punakha from the 13 – 15 December, 2008.
The Bhutan Folk Festival is organised to commemorate the 100 years of monarchy and to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty the 5th King. The event offers visitors a chance to experience and discover the living tradition and cultural heritage of Bhutan, the last Himalayan Buddhist kingdom.
It is almost midnight. The temperature has dropped to 2 degree Celsius. A large gathering of devotees wait in anticipation huddled near Jampa lhakhang in Bumthang, their eyes on the monastery’s main door.
The Buddhist festivals or Tshechus are one of the prime examples of the living culture of Bhutan that many have come to admire and to treasure. The Tshechu is a festival in honour of Guru Rimpoche, the saint who brought Buddhism to Bhutan and the Himalayan world.
70 years old Ap Dago from Paro has never missed the Thimphu Tsechu. This year was his fourth decade of attendance. But this time, his experience has been an altogether different one.
The restoration work on the 395 year old Gangteng Sang Ngak Choling (popularly known as the Gangtey Goenpa) in Phobjikha valley has been completed, and an elaborate ceremonies for the consecration of the monastery has been planned.
The Jakar Tshechu in Bumthang, which was scheduled to be held from the 6 to 9 November, 2008 will be held from the 29 to 31 October, 2008. The original dates were found to be clashing with the Coronation Celebrations.
Festivals form an inseparable part of the Bhutanese culture. The Tshechus (festivals) are celebrated for 3 to 5 days in which both monks and laymen take part in the dances.