Trelda Tshechu of Dagana Dzongkhag is held every year on the 10th day of second Bhutanese month coinciding with Guru's Birthday. During the one day Trelda Tshechu, all the mask dances of the five day of Annual Daga Tshechu are performed in one day. This year the Tshechu falls on 16 March 2019.
Trelda Tshechu Program
1. ATSARA GOCHAM: Atsara (Clown) invoking all the five local deities. The mask of this Atsaragom is said to be the hand carving of Zhabdrung Jigme Chogyal.
2. Shinjee Yab Yum (Dance of Lord of Death) : The costumes a Bull Mask and long brocade dress. Jambayang or the Bodhisattva Manjushree represents the body of the wisdom of all buddhas. In another, more wrathful form,he is the Lord of Death, Shinjee. The dance is about Jambayang in the form of the Lord of Death. He is the ruler of the Three Worlds and Protector of the four continents. He blesses the continents before the arrival on earth of the Gods of Wisdom.
3.Raksha Gocham: This dance introduces the role of Raksha in offering prayers to the land deities of all four directions. This dance is performed only during Dagana Tshechu.
4. Tsarcham: This dance introduces the roles of different animals in the intermediate state (Bardo). This dance is performed only during Dagana Tshechu.
5. Zhana Ngacham (Dance of Black Hats Drums) : Poisonous and infectious afflictions can obstruct accomplishment in Buddhism. To overcome them, the Masters of the Vajrayana tradition use skilful means. The dancers beating their drums proclaim victory over the evil spirits. Zhana Nga Cham represents this process of good prevailing over evil. The sound of the drums represents religion and the subtle form of Buddha’s teachings. Zhana Nga Cham is performed on occasions where great works are planned; one such occasion, for instance, was when the Glorious Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal consolidated the country. The elements of earth, water, fire and air, are pacified by the performance of this dance, thus making them fertile and supportive of the initiatives. The dancers wear large black hats, felt boots and colourful long brocade garments.
6. Shazham Cham (Dance of Four Stags) : This dance represents the subjugation of the Wind King by Guru Rinpoche. The Wind King had been causing the world great misery through his powers. So Guru rode the stag, which happened to be the mount of the God of the Wind, when he subdued the Wind King and appeased all beings by establishing peace and happiness. It was the first incarnation of Lam Namkhe Nyingpo who revealed the treasure of this dance. It is believed that he found the effigy of the stag and created the stag dance.
7. Drametse Nga Cham (Dance of Drums from Drametse) : The learned Lam Kuenga Gyeltshen had a vision of Guru Rinpochhe and his paradise. Lam Kuenga Gyeltshen depicted his vision in the form of this dance ,which he composed in the Monastery of Drametse in Eastern Bhutan.
8. Guru Tsengye (Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpochhe) : This dance shows the eight different forms of Guru Rinpoche assumed in order to bring different beings into the Buddhist fold. The Guru Tshengye dance is said to bring total peace and happiness to all sentient beings.
9. Shawo Shachi (Dance of Stag and Hounds) : Great Saint Jetsoen Milarepa (1040-1123) was meditating in a hermitage when he heard a man shout and a dog bark. He went out of the cave and saw a red stag tembling in fear and drenched in sweat being chased by two dogs running towards him. Because of his great compassion, Milarepa sang a religious song, which soothed the temper and passion of the dogs and made the stag forget his fears and lie down next to Milarepa. This dance is generally performed like a two part play held over two days of Daga Tshechu. The first part is slightly comical and while the second one has a more serious and religious tone.
The day long Tshechu will be concluded with Ten Wang to the public.