16th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Ceremonial Dance Jambay Lakhang Monastery, Bumthang, Bhutan

Ceremonial dances represent the victory of virtuous forces over evil forces or demons. The festival at Jambay Lakhang Monastery continues throughout the day. Jambay Lakhang Tsechu (means literally Festival of Jambay Lakhang Monastery) in Bumthang. The Jambay Lakhang Tsechu like many other Buddhist monastery festivals is held annually to celebrate the Guru Rinpoche who introduced the Tantric Vajrayana subsect in Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. These festivals in each monastery are mostly an annual event. Monasteries are located in each district of Bhutan so a Tsechu festival may occur somewhere in Bhutan during each month of a given year.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2018
Photo Location: Bumthang, Bhutan
Camera: Canon EOS 5D
Copyright: © Joan Sharma