Gangtey Tshechu - A religious festival to commemorate the visit of Pema Lingpa, considered as reincarnation of Guru Rinpoche, to teach Buddhism in Gangtey valley

Guru Padmasambhava also known as Guru Rinpoche is considered as Second Buddha in Bhutan. And the Nyingma traditions is the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism while Pema Lingpa is the second most important saint / Guru in Nyingma tradition after Guru Rinpoche because of his contribution in spreading Buddhism, in Bhutan. During his visit to Gangtey to teach Buddhism to people of Phobjikha valley and Gangtey, Pema Lingpa (who is considered as reincarnation of Guru Rinpoche) having impressed by majestic mountains of the valley had foretold that one of his descendants would build a monastery on hilltop and make it famous as the seat of Peling tradition. This prediction fructified when Gangtey monastery was built by his grandson, Gyalse Pema Thinely, in 1613 which is now the main seat of Pema Lingpa tradition. Perched on a hillock on one of Bhutan’s most scenic and picturesque valley, Gangtey Monastery is now the most important monasteries in the country of Peling tradition.

 Annual Gangtey Tshechu, a three day religious event, is celebrated at large courtyard of this famous Gangtey Goenpa (monastery) to commemorate Guru Rinpoche’s birth and include various sacred mask dances those are based on Peling tradition and some of them are unique to Gangtey. In between mask dances, there are also folk songs & traditional performances, and the celebration concludes with Nguedup Langwa, a spiritual blessing for wisdom and power.