People have different reasons for planning a trip to Bhutan. For some, it is their colorful festivals. The Bhutan festival of Talo Tshechu brings together people from all the 20 districts. During the course of the festival, prayers are offered and blessings are sought from several gods and goddesses. If your travel to Bhutan coincides with the dates of this festival, then it is something not to be missed.

Like other festivals in Bhutan, this one too possesses its own spiritual and cultural significance, no doubt. However, for the locals, it is an occasion which brings about a family reunion. This is that time of the year when friends and relatives leave their work behind them and look forward to returning home and being a part of the celebrations.

The festival of Talo Tshechu is marked by exciting and colourful mask dances which are accompanied by atsara. (Atsaras are jesters who wear colourful masks and guide the mask dancers in every step. They are in fact storytellers who provide the background to every dance as it is performed). It is held at the Talo Monastery, which is in itself a major tourist attraction and always finds a mention in every Bhutan travel guide.

The dances are accompanied by three songs which are called Mani Sum. These are performed as the closing item on each day of the three days of the festival. Apart from this, there are three other songs, Samyi Sala, Drukpa Dungey and Thowachi Gangi Tselay. The songs are performed in a successive order over the course of three days. Different kinds of delightful mask dances are performed by Buddhist monks which entertain the onlookers immensely. Villagers also join in the celebrations by dancing to their hearts delight.

If you are planning a Bhutan festival tour which covers all the exciting festivals in Bhutan, then you should certainly participate in this one.