Photos of Thimphu Tsechu

A tsechu is a Buddhist festival in celebration of the Guru Rinpoche. Each district in Bhutan has its own tsechu, but the Thimphu Tsechu is the largest of these and takes place each fall, usually in September or October. An outdoor festival ground was built in 2008 at Thimphu's Traaho Chhoe Dzong, which allows for the comfortable seating of 25,000 people. Although tourists do visit the Tsechu, the attendees are overwhelmingly Bhutanese. The festival lasts for four days and features dances depicting different stages in the life of the Guru Rinpoche.