Punakha Tshechu (7 Days Tour) | 7th - 9th March 2017 Tour

The Punakha tsechu is one of the most popular tsechus in the country. It is held right after the popular Punakha Drubchen.
The unfurling of the thongdrol (a large tapestry) of Guru Rinpoche is the attraction of the festival. It is believed that a mere sight of the thongdrol liberates an onlooker and cleanses him of his sins.

The festival commemorates the success of the man Ngawang Namgyel who unified Bhutan for the first time in history. A lama who came to Bhutan from Tibet in 1616 AD and became a powerful ruler. Between 1616 and 1651, the Tibetan forces attacked Bhutan to recover some important Buddhist relics which the Zhabdrung brought with him. He invoked the help of guardian deities and defeated the Tibetans every time.
Thus, the festival commemorates the victory over the Tibetan forces and also worships the local guardian deities who helped the Zhabdrung. The deities are still considered to be the national deities protecting the country, they are invoked in times of national threats and emergencies.