Kurjey Tshechu - A one-day Buddhist festival with full of historical significance & religious importance

Kurjey Tshechu (festival) takes place at Kurjey Lhakhang, or Kurjey Monastery, located in Choekhor valley of Bumthang about 10-minute drive from heart of town.

This large, sacred and historically significant temple complex is named after the body (kür) print (jey) of Guru Rinpoche, which is preserved in a cave inside the oldest of the three buildings that make up the complex.

The first of the three temples, the Guru Lhakhang, is the oldest and was built in 1652 by Chhogyal Mingyur Tenpa when he was Penlop of Trongsa. Sir Ugyen Wangchuck, the first King of Bhutan, built the second temple, the Sampa Lhundrup Lhakhang, in 1900, when he was still Penlop (Governor) of Trongsa. The third building in the complex was built by Ashi Kesang Wangchuck, queen to the third King, in 1984 under the guidance of His Eminence Dilgo Khyentse Rinpochhe. She also had the courtyard in front of the three temples paved with stones and built a wall with 108 chortens around the whole complex. This is the final resting place of the remains of the first three Kings of Bhutan. Also, a large tree behind one of the temple buildings is believed to be a terma that was left there by Guru Padmasambhava.

Kurjey Tshechu is one-day festival during which Chams (mask dances) including Guru Tshengye and Shinjay Cham are performed by monks of the monastery. The festival concludes with unfurling of giant Guru’s Thongdroel (large tapestry). Kurjey Tshechu is an important occasion for the people of Bumthang to receive blessing by witnessing age-old mask dances and other religious ceremonies.