| Description |
Jakar Tshechu is a recent introduction, as noted above. It was established in 1994 on the 4th day of the sixth lunar month through the initiative of Dzongdag Dasho Pema Dorje and Thrimpon Dasho Sangay Rinzin. In the beginning, the mask dances were performed by Trongsa Rabdey as the dzong had no permanent monks. The duration of the tshechu was initially only one day long. Later, during the time of Dzongdag Nyima Tshering, it was extended to four days, running through the 8th to 11th days of the ninth lunar month.
Given their prominence and importance, usually the annual district tshechu are sponsored and coordinated by the respective District
administrations. Similarly, Jakar Tshechu is organized by the Bumthang District Administration in collaboration with the Jakar Rabdey. While at many festivals the local residents provide contributions, at Jakar Tshechu all the expenses are borne by the District Administration rather than by the locals. As the sponsor, the District Administration documents all expenditures for the duration of the tshechu, which includes meals for all participants, mask dancers and folk dancers, as well as their wages.
Preparations for the festival are intense and involve significant manpower, financial resources and planning. Preparations begin well in advance, with the lam and dratshang overseeing the preparations for rituals and practice sessions for the mask dances. The dzongkhag takes on administrative responsibilities and plans the budget. A week before the festival, the dzongkhag staff prepare the performance area in the dzong courtyard. The district administration selects around thirty-two mask dancers, between ages of eighteen and forty-two, from the four gewogs. In addition, a troupe of approximately eleven folk dancers is chosen from each gewog to perform in between the mask dances. The troupes rotate each year, with each group performing every four years. The folk dancers and the mask dancers begin practicing about a month before the tshechu.
On the 7th day of the ninth lunar month, dancers hold a rehearsal session, which is called chamjug. These rehearsals are held in the courtyard of the dzong where the festival takes place and include the use of musical instruments, such as trumpets and clarinets. The practice continues for much of the day, from around 8:30 a.m. until around 3 p.m. The two chief mask dancers, one from the monastic community and the other from the District Administration, oversee the practice to ensure that everything is perfect. During rehearsal, the dancers don’t wear the costumes or masks and only the main mask dances are rehearsed.
a. Day One: (8th Day of the Ninth Lunar Month):
The main event begins on the 8th day of the ninth lunar month, when the monks get up around 1:30 a.m. to perform the Lama Gongdue ritual. Before dawn, the ritual pauses at tshog lhagma for breakfast and preparation for the mask dance performances. Around 8 a.m., the dzongkhag staff gathers at the dzong to receive dzongda and drangpon and then they all wait to receive lam. Then the lam accompanied by Dzongkhag Administration officials including dzongdag and drangpon, move in a chibdrel procession to the zigrekhang (spectators’ pavilion) to witness tshechu proceedings. The mask dance performances begin by 8:30 a.m. In 2015, the mask dances were performed in the following order:
- Shinje Yab-yum Cham (Yamantaka Father and Mother Dance);
- Yoeluema Cham (Dance of the Malevolent Spirit);
- Peling Ging Sum (Dance of the Three Gings): Ju Ging Cham (Stick Dance), Dri Ging Cham (Sword Dance) and Nga Ging Cham (Drum Dance);
- Kel Cham (Farewell Dance);
- Pholey Moley (Dance of the Noblemen and the Charming Ladies);
- Shawo Gangley Phap (the first episode of chasing the stag down the mountain).
At the conclusion of the mask dances, the lam and the monks resume the feast offering
ritual in the lhakhang from where they left off in morning.
b. Day Two: (9th Day of the Ninth Lunar Month):
The morning’s programme on the 9th day of the ninth lunar month is same as the day prior. The ritual pauses at tshog lhagma for breakfast, and then the day’s mask dances begin around 8:30 a.m. as follows:
- Zhana Cham (Black Hat Dance);
- Zhana Nga Cham (Black Hat Drum Dance);
- Dramitse Nga Cham (Dance of the Drums from Dramitse);
- Durdhag Cham (Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds);
- Ging Tsholing Cham (dance of the wrathful deities and the ging);
- Shawa Shakhyi Thaley Tonpa (the second episode driving the stag out of low-lying jungles).
As on the previous day, after mask dances, the monks and the lam resume conducting the ritual prayers in the lhakhang, starting from the tshog lhagma intermission and conclude the day’s programme.
c. Day Three: (10th Day of the Ninth Lunar Month):
The morning programme is same as days one and two. The ritual pauses at tshog lhagma for breakfast before the day’s mask dances begin. The day focuses on the judgment of the dead and depicts the consequences of karma on the afterlife, and people receive blessings from the Lord of Death. The mask dances are performed as follows:
- Durdhag Cham (Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds);
- Tum-ngam Cham (Dance of the Terrifying Deities);
- Shazam Cham (dance of the four stags);
- Raksha Go Cham (Ox-headed Dance);
- Raksha Mang Cham (Intermediate State Dance).
As on the previous days, the Lam Neten and monks resume the ritual prayers from the tshog lhagma to conclude the day’s events.
d. Day Four: (11th Day of the Ninth Lunar Month): Thongdrol (giant tapestry) and Tenwang (blessing by sacred relics):
The 11th day of the ninth lunar month is the last day of the tshechu, during which the thongdrol is unfurled and artefacts are displayed to the public, an act called tenwang. People gather in the dzong as early as 3 a.m. The main statue displayed for public blessing is a small statue of Yidam Thongwa Kundrol that Terton Pema Lingpa is said to have withdrawn from Mebartsho (the Burning Lake). The thongdrol was made in 2005 and shows Guru Tshengyed, the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche. In front of the hanging thongdrol, mask dances – specifically Pacham, Dram-nyen Choeje, and Zhengzhi Pemi Cham – are performed to pay homage to Guru Rinpoche. The day’s mask dance programme is presented in following order:
- Unfurling of Guru Tshengyed Thongdrol;
- Zhengzhi Pemi Cham (Dance offering with recitation of prayers to Guru Rinpoche);
- Bekor Cham (Ceremonial Dance of the Monks);
- Pa Cham (Dance of Heroes);
- Guru Tshengyed Cham (Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche);
- Rigma Chudrug (Dance of the Sixteen Wisdom Consorts);
- Acho dang Phento (the story of the conversion of the hunter);
- Atsara gi Lochoe (Atsara’s ritual) to mark the conclusion of tshechu.
As on prior days, the events finish with the feast offering ritual in the lhakhang, though with additional rituals particular to the last day. Specifically, a torshag (cascading the ritualcakes) ritual followed by ngoedrub langwang (receive blessings) and trashi monlam (auspicious prayers), during which all participants gather and to offer collective dedications and auspicious prayers. |
