Thimphu Festival: Dance of Lord of Cremation Ground

To the average spectator, the Dance of the Lord of the Cremation Ground or Dhurdag chham is a skeleton at work. But this dance, with the least number of participants, four dancers, is among the deities that protect the Buddha Dharma.

They are highly regarded in tantric practices, and are the guards of the eight cremation grounds, situated on the edges of the cosmic diagram or the mandala.

According to Kinzang Dorji, who teaches mask dances at the institute of language and culture studies in Semtokha, Dhurdag is the emanation of Pelden Lhamo, the main protective deity of Bhutan. “Pelden Lhamo manifests in the form of Dhurdag, when she serves as the lord of endowments in Tantarayana,” he said.

There are two different versions of the dhurdag dance, one performed by the monks, and the other by laymen, with some difference in steps. The dancers bring a box in a cloth that is made to look like human skin, which contains a small effigy of a human being. The cloth and the box will be left behind, when the dance is completed, to be damaged by the Tungam chham dancers that would follow. “This signifies subduing the evil that harms the tantric doctrine,” said Kinzang Dorji.

Dhurdag chham performed by monks, according to the Tsugla Lopen Samten Dorji says the dance is performed only by senior monks, who have mastered all other mask dances. “Durdag is complex, because it requires some measure of understanding of tantric symbolism.”

Spectators at tshechus, while witnessing the Dhurdag dance, should visualise the surrounding as the great cremation ground, the people as the assembly of buddhas, dakis, dakinis and the lords around the cosmic world, and dhurdag dancers as the real lord of cremation grounds, said the Tsugla lopon. “It’s only then that they’ll be bestowed the endowments.”

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutan Thimphu Festival

Bhutan Thimphu Festival Tour

Join the colourful Thimphu Festival Tour. Visit Bhutan at the time of Thimphu Tsechu the grandest festivals in Bhutan. The Thimphu Festival is a religious festival where masked dances are performed to instruct the onlookers in the ways of Dharma. These are also occasions where Bhutanese people dress in their finest ethnic costumes. During the Thimphu Festival Tour you can witness various religious masked dances performed in the courtyards of the Dzong of the area. Our special festival tours visit Bhutan during the famous and colourful Thimphu Festival.

Day 1: Arrival Paro International Airport.
During the journey to Paro, one will experience from the left hand side of the plane, breath taking view of Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga and other famous Himalayan peaks, including the sacred Chomolhari and Mount Jichu Drake in Bhutan. On the arrival at Paro International Airport, The representative, your tour guide will receive you and escort you to the hotel. After a brief rest at the hotel and tea/coffee, drive to the National Museum (Ta-Dzong). This was actually the Watch Tower of Paro Rinpung Dzong. It was converted to the National Museum in 1968. Visit the Paro Rinpung Dzong. This massive fortress is located on a hill top above the Pachu (Paro River) of Paro Valley. You have to walk about 15 minutes by crossing an ancient wooden bridge built in typical Bhutanese architect. The Dzong houses the District Administration Office and the District Monk Body. It was built in 1645 A.D. Lunch at Hotel. After Lunch Visit Kyichu Lhakhang (Lhakhang means Monastery). Kyichu Lhakhang was built in 659 A.D. by King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet. It is considered one of the holiest places in Bhutan as it marks the advent of Buddhism in the country. It is one of the 108 such temples built by him for spreading Buddhism in this region. Drive to the Paro village town and explore the town. Altitude of Paro is 2260m.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Day 2: Paro – Paro
Drive for 15kms and reach the base of Famous Tiger’s Nest “TAKTSANG” Monastery and hike up which would take Two Hours up and approximately One Hour down. Stop at Taktsang Tea House “Cafeteria” for refreshment of Tea & Coffee. Taktsang is at 2900mts. Hike for another half an hour and you reach the Great and Magnificent Taktsang where you will be greets by the monks who live there and Special Bhutanese Butter Tea will be served with Snacks. Visit the most important monastery were the Guru Rimpoche was flying on a Flamming Tigress from Singye Dzong in Eastern Bhutan to here and meditated for Three Months and flourishment of Buddhism in Paro started from 8th Century. Walk down hill and drive to Drugyal Dzong and on the way enjoys the view of the Taktsang Monastery, also known as “Tiger’s Nest temple”. Near the Drugyal Dzong, if the sky is clear we can see the Mt. Chomolhari on the background.
Overnight: Hotel in Paro.

Thimphu is the Capital City of Bhutan but for the Buddhist Monk body moves to Punakha in Winter and their Summer Capital District is Thimphu but Winter s Punakha because it is cold in Thimphu during winter and Punakha is just perfect at 1300mts

Day 3: Paro – Thimphu
The drive to Thimphu will take roughly Two Hours. Thimphu is the capital city of Bhutan since from 1974. Punakha used to the capital city of Bhutan before that.
For the first one hour you will follow the Pa-Chu (Paro River) and reach Chuzom where the Thimphu River meets the Paro River and forms Wang-Chu (Chu means Water, River or Stream). Chuzom is a four direction motor road junction where one road leads to Thimphu, one to Phuentsholing the border town to India, one to Haa valley and one where you drove from Paro. It will take another One hour from here to Capital city, Thimphu. Check in the Hotel and after short rest visit National Memorial Stupa, built in 1874 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the father of Modern Bhutan, the Late His Majesty the Third King of Bhutan. The Memorial Stupa, built in 1974 by Royal Queen Mother and dedicated to the Father of Modern Bhutan, The Third King of Bhutan. This Tibetan & Bhutanese Architecture mixed Stupa has got three different sects of Buddhism such as Gongdu on the Top floor, Drukpa Kagyud on Middle with Second Buddha figure facing the Sun Rise and on the Ground Floor it is the Phurba.

Day 4: Thimphu – Thimphu
Full Day Thimphu Festival
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 5: Thimphu – Thimphu
Full Day Thimphu Festival
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu

Day 6: Thimphu - Thimphu
AM Thimphu Festival, Lunch in Town, after lunch drive to BBS Tower to get the magnificent picture and view of Thimphu and you can also see our Queens Palaces. Visit to Thimphu Mini Zoo where you can see our National Animal “TAKIN” which has a head of a goat and body of a cow, believed to be made by great Devine Madman in the 16th Century. Visit national Library, School of Thirteen Arts and Crafts, National institute of Traditional Medicines.
Overnight: Hotel in Thimphu.

Day 7: Thimphu – Punakha
After breakfast drive to Winter Capital for the Monastic Body, Punakha at 1300m.
One hour drive reach you to Dochula Pass at 3150mts where you can see and enjoy the Eastern Himalayas in a Panoramic View and best picture time for group of Bhutanese Style of Stupas, as there are 108 Stupas built by Her Majesty for the well being of the Nation and Love Live His Majesty. It descends to Punakha and Wangdue at 1300mts which will take another two hours. Visit Historic and one of the most beautiful Punakha Dzong built in 1637 by Great Zhabdrung Rimpoche who unified Bhutan in 17th Century.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 8: Punakha - Punakha
After breakfast walk to the famous Devine Madman’s Monastery The Chhimi Lhakhang “No Dog Monastery” built in 1499. Today it is very popular because couples who are married for so many years and don’t have childrens but always desired go there and get blessed from the wodden Phallus and in another Nine months the wife gets pregnant. We will visit the monastery and meditate and picnic lunch will be served outside the monastery in a lush green ground. After Lunch drive to Punakha and visit the beautiful and legendary Khamsum Yuley Namgyal Monastery built by Her Majesty the Queen mother of our Crown Prince.
Overnight: Hotel in Punakha

Day 9: Punakha – Paro
After breakfast drive to Paro. Lunch at Thimphu. Afterlunch further drive to Paro
Overnight: Hotel in Paro

Day 10: Depart Bhutan.

After breakfast drive to Paro International Airport to board.

Thank You very much for visiting Bhutan with us and we look forward in hearing and re-organizing same Pilgrimage Tour for you, your family members and Friends!!!

Raksha Marchham

This is the dance of the Judgement of the Dead is based on the Bardo Thoedrol (Book of the Dead), a text hidden by Guru Rinpochhe and rediscoverd later by torten Karma Lingpa in the fourteenth century.

Durdag Chham

This is a dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds and is performed by four dancers. They all wear white costumes and white skull masks.

TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2009

1 Punakha Dromche Punakha 3rd – 5th March

2 Punakha Tsechu Punakha 6th -8th March

3 Bulli Mani (Chummi) Bumthang 12th – 14th March

4 Tharpaling Thongdrol Bumthang 11th March

5 Tangsibi Mani Ura, Bumthang 11th – 14th March

6 Gayden Chodpa Ura, Bumthang 24th – 26th March

7 Chorten Kora Trashiyangtse 11th March & 26th March

8 Gomkora Trashigang 2nd – 4th April

9 Paro Tsechu Paro 5th – 9th April

10 Chhukha Tsechu Chhukha 7th – 9th April

11 Ura Yakchoe Bumthang 5th – 9th May

12 Nimalung Tsechu Bumthang 30th June – 2nd July

13 Kurjey Tsechu Bumthang 2nd July 10th

14 Wangdue Tsechu Wangdue Phodrang 26th – 28th September

15 Tamshingphala Choepa Bumthang 28th – 30th September

16 Thimphu Drupchen Thimphu 23rd – 27th September

17 Thimphu Tsechu Thimphu 28th – 30th September

18 Tangbi Mani Bumthang 3rd – 5th October

19 Shingkhar Rabney Ura, Bumthang 24th – 28th October

20 Jakar Dzong Tshechu Bumthang 26th -29th October

21 Jambay Lhakhang Drup Bumthang 2nd – 6th November

22 Prakhar Duchhoed Bumthang 3rd – 5th November

23 Sumdrang Kangsol Ura, Bumthang 13th -16th November

24 Mongar Tsechu Mongar 25th – 27th November

25 Pemagatshel Tsechu Pemagatshel 25th – 27th November

26 Trashigang Tsechu Trashigang 26th – 28th November

27 Namkha Rabney Tang, Bumthang 27th – 28th November

28 Nalakhar Tsechu Bumthang 2nd – 4th December

29 Chozam Rabney Tang, Bumthang 2nd – 5th December

30 Trongsa Tsechu Trongsa 25th – 27th December

31 Lhuntse Tsechu Lhuntse 25th – 27th December

32 Nabji Lhakhang Drup Nabji, Trongsa 31st Dec. 09– 4th Jan.10

Shazam Chham

Shazam Chham

The dance is performed by four dancers wearing knee length silk skirts and stag masks. Guru Rinpochhe subdued the Lung Lha (God of Wind) who was the causing suffering to the people of the world. He rode on the Lung Lha’s stag and restored peace and happiness in the world.

Dramitse Nga Chham

It is performed by sixteen dancers, each wearing a mask representing an animal or a bird. They have an Nga in the left hand and a drumstick in the right hand. They wear knee length yellow silk skirts.

Pa Chham

The dancers are dressed in knee length yellow skirts and Ringa (golden crowns). They do not wear masks. They carry a drilbu (small bell) and a tangtee (a small drum) in each hand.

Guru Tshengye Chham

Guru Tshengye Chham

Guru Rinpochhe Assumed a various forms in order to help all living beings. The dance of Guru Tshengye depicts his eight main manifestations. The display of the glorious deeds of the great Guru during the dance strengthens the faith of the spectators.

Ging Tsholing Chham

Ging Tsholing Chham

The dancers which combines two groups of characters namely Ging and Tsholing. The Tsholing dancers have long colorful brocade dresses and wear terrifying masks. The Ging dancers wear tagshams (tiger-skin skirts) and terrifying dark blue (male) and red (female) mask with a flag on the top. Each Ging dancers carries Nga (Drum) in the left hand and Nea tog (drumstick) in the right hand.

The Tungam Chham

Tungam Chham

The dancers wear beautiful brocade dresses, boots and a terrifying mask. The dance has a very deep symbolic meaning. A ritual sacrifice is carried out, the dancers represent the gods.

ZHANA CHHAM

Zhana Chham - (Black Hats Dance)

The dancers wear wide tall black hats, felt boots and long colorful brocade dresses. They doesn’t wear mask. The dancers assume the appearance of Neljorpas (Yogis) and this way they subdue the enemies of the doctrine. This is done in order to lead the beings or spirits to Buddha’s path.

BHUTAN MASK DANCES

Dance and music play a very important role in the cultural life of people. Through these dances, the ordinary people come to know their place in the history of the country. Chhams are usually performed during the Tshechus

The Chhams were composed mainly to convey religious messages to the people. Some were composed by Guru Rinpochhe while others were created by Terton Pema Lingpa, Zhabdrung Rinpochhe and other great saints. During the mask dances, the deities of the tantric teacheings as invoked and through their power and blessings, misfortunes are removed. All evil spirits and demons which are preventing the spread of Chhoe (the doctrine) are suppressed so that the doctrine of Lord Buddha mat flourish and bring joy and happiness to all beings.