Punakha Drubchen
Punakha Drubchen
Punakha Dzong
Feb 24, 2023 to Feb 28, 2023
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Festival
Punakha Dromche festival is unique for being the only festival with a procession that re-enact the war against Tibetan in the 17th century. Dromche generally include dances and this festival is dedicated to Yeshe Gompo (Mahakala) or Palden Lhamo, the two main protective deities of Drukpas (Drukpas = means people of Druk land or Bhutanese). Punakha Dromche take place in the first month of the lunar year and ends with ’Serda’, a magnificent procession which re-enacts an episode of the war against the Tibetan in the 17th century.
The religious dances performed during festival are called ’Cham’ and there are a large number of them. Dancers wear spectacular costumes made of yellow silk or rich brocade, often decorated with ornaments of carved bone. For certain dances, they wear masks which may represent animals, fearsome deities, skulls or just simple human beings.
These dances can be grouped in three categories; (I) Instructive or Didactic Dances, (II) Dances that purify and protect a place from demonic spirits, (III) Dances that proclaim the victory of Buddhism. See https://www.drukasia.com/bhutan-travel/festival/punakha-dromche-9-day/