Tshechu Festival in Bhutan - Canvas Print

Stretched Canvas 76cm x 51cm

This captivating image was taken in the village of Gasa, located in northwest Bhutan, during the annual Tshechu festival.

The Tshechu is a significant celebration of the Buddhist faith, featuring elaborate religious dances performed by monks and laymen dressed in magnificent costumes of silk and brocade, often complemented by intricately painted wooden masks. Local residents, adorned in their finest traditional attire, and often wearing painted wooden masks, gather in a burst of colour to socialise and honour their faith during this lively event.

The Gasa Tshechu unfolds within the 17th-century dzong, perched on a hillside at an elevation of 2,800 meters. Unlike other Bhutanese dzongs, Gasa dzong is uniquely circular and spans multiple levels, creating a breathtaking backdrop for the festival.

Kindly donated by Heather McNeice.