Trashi Yangtse Tshechu

The annual Tshechu in Trashi Yangtse drew a huge crowd this year compared to the past years. This is because the Tsechu was held for the first time in the new Dzong, accommodating the increasing number of people.

In the past the annual Tshechu was held in Dongdey Dzong, which used to be the old Trashiyangtse Dzong. Since Dongdey Dzong is about five kilometres away from the proper town, not many people could attend the Tsechu.

After completing the construction of the second Utse for the new Dzong, the Tshogdue decided to organise the Tshechu in the new Dzong. The decision was taken for the convenience of the public, according to officials.

Our reporter, Cheyche, said that the courtyard of the new Dzong is also more spacious than the old Dzong accommodating more devotees.

“It is more interesting to watch here compared to the old Dzong. People were not willing to come to the old Dzong to watch tshcehu. But here everyone is interested to come since there is lots of sitting space to watch the Tshechu,” said one of the local reidents, Neten.

According to some of the regulars, the number of people coming to witness has increased by almost thrice. “I also went to witness in the old Dzong and there were not many people. People were not willing to go to the old Dzong since there is no proper place to sit and watch Tshechu,” said Passang Tshering, a local resident.

Some of the people said that only Dzongkhag staff and monks would watch the Tshechu when organised at the old Dzong.

The monks and the Dzongkhag mask dancers performed various mask dances during the three-day tshechu. The Dzongkhag dancers and students from various schools performed cultural dances to entertain the crowd.

The Tshechu concluded with the unfurling of Guru Tshengay Thongdrol yesterday. The Tshechu was initiated in 1999.

Source: BBS

Trashiyangtse Dzong

Trashiyangtse was a Dungkhag under the administration of Trashigang Dzongkhag till 1992. It was created as a separate full fledged Dzongkhag co-inciding with the start of the seventh plan in 1992. The Dzongkhag has eight geogs namely Bumdeling, Jamkhar, Khamdang, Ramjar, Tomzhangtshen, Trashiyangtse, Toetsho, and Yalang with 117 villages and 3489 households..

Two and half five-year development plans have brought about manifold socio-economic changes in the lives of the people in the Dzongkhag. As of first half of 2006 (4th year of 9th Five Year Plan) the Dzongkhag has one Higher Secondary School, one Middle Secondary School, four Lower Secondary Schools, twenty two community primary Schools, one Hospital, seven Basic Health Units (BHU), eight Renewable Natural Resources (RNR-EC) Extension Centers, one Institute for Zorig Chusum and a 40 KM black topped road. Over 70% of the households have access to piped drinking water supply.

9. Trashiyangtse

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Trashiyangtse is the administrative center for this district. Situated in a small river valley, it is a lovely spot from which to take walks in the surrounding countryside. The Dzong overlooking the town was built in the late 1990s when the new district was created. Trashiyangtse is famous for its wooden containers and bowls, which make inexpensive, attractive and useful mementos of a visit to this remote region. The Institute for Zorig Chusum, where students study the 13 traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan, is also worth a visit.