sons of the thunder dragon
BOISVIEUX Christophe / hemis.fr
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Bhutan : Punakha, the triumph of the
Each year, the Punakha festival commemorates the victory of the Bhutanese over the Tibetans. In 1639, the invaders had crossed the snow-covered passes to seize the precious Ranjung Karsapani relic brought back from Tibet by the spiritual and temporal Bhutan leader, Ngawang Namgyal. Each year, during the first month of the lunar year, a continuous succession of prayers, ceremonies and dances celebrate this glorious episode in their history in the monastery fortress of Punakhawang. The last days of the festival are devoted to various ceremonies, war dances and especially a grand procession in honour of Mahakala, the protective divinity of Bhutan. The day after, a huge brocade banner or thangka, representing Ngawang Namgyal, is unrolled in the first light of dawn. The 30 foot high banner is supposed to have a cleansing effect on the faithful who all crowd round to receive the blessing from above. The courtyard of the monastery then becomes the theatre of the eternal combat between good and evil with performances similar to the medieval Mystery plays acted in front of churches. The most impressive is the dance of the Black Hats, commemorating the assassination in 842 of the Tibetan tyrant, Langdarma, enemy of Buddhism by a monk. The spectators heartily enjoy these performances and take an active part in the festivities with a cheerful, light-hearted joviality, thus proving that piety is not the only way to wisdom.
HEMIS_231313 : Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival. The dancers wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats
commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism. The steps of the dancers make a mandala and draw in the space the triumph of the Buddhism over evil spirits. Page 3 / 17
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, the dance of the Black hats, the dancers wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism, by a monk who had hidden his bow and his arrows in the big sleeves of his clothe.
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, Monks getting dressed for the great procession of Serda which commemorates the victory of the Bhutanese over the Tibetans invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress overlooking Mo Chhu river
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, Pazaps representing the soldiers of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Bhutan's greatest ruler who unified the country in the 1630s, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorates the victory of the Bhutaneses over the Tibetan invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, Pazaps representing the soldiers of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Bhutan's greatest ruler who unified the country in the 1630s, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorates the victory of the Bhutaneses over the Tibetan invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, during Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, the 136 Pazap represent the army of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified the country in the years 1630
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, visiting Punakha Dzong during the Serda festival, king of Bhutan, his majesty Jigme khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong (Buddhist fortress-monastery), during Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, this is one of the 136 Pazap representing the army of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, during Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, war dance of Pazaps representing the army of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, greatest king of Bhutan who was at the origin of the unification of the country
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, war dance of Pazaps who represent the soldiers of Shqbdrung. Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639. The 136 Pazap represent the army of the shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified the country in the years 1630
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, during Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, war dance of Pazaps representing the army of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, greatest king of Bhutan who was at the origin of the unification of the country
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, departure of the Pazaps thqt represent the soldiers of Shabdrung. The Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639. The 136 Pazap represent the army of the shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified the country in the years 1630
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HEMIS_231266 : Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, departure of the generals of Shabdrung during the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutaneses over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, the 136 Pazap represent the army of the shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified the country in the years 1630 Page 7 / 17
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanese over the Tibetan invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha, ceremony dedicated to the spirits of the waters during the he Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639,young novices
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Bhutan, Punakha, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, ceremony of the orange skins thrown into the river which symbolize the relics coveted by the Tibetan invaders
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Bhutan, Punakha, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639 representation of the Triumph of the generals of the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Bhutan's greatest ruler at the origin of the unification of the country
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, spectators of the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutaneses over the Tibetan invaders in 1639
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Bhutan, Punakha, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639 representation of the Triumph of the generals of the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, Bhutan's greatest ruler at the origin of the unification of the country in the 1630s
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, the procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, victory dance of the Pazaps who represent the army of the shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, greatest's king of Bhutan at the origin of the unification of the country
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, distribution of Marchang, barley alcool to the Pazaps who represent the soldiers of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was the greatest king of Bhutan and at the origin of the unification of the country in the 1630s
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, a thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric) depicting Ngawang Namgyal, Bhutan's greatest ruler who unified the country in the 1630s
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Monks unrolling a thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric)
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Bhutan's greatest ruler, Nun in prayer in front of a thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric) depicting Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal at the origin of the unification of the country in the 1630s
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HEMIS_231275 : Bhutan, Punakha, the Punakha procession or Serda commemorating the victory of the Bhutanesess over the Tibetan invaders in 1639, young novices watching the orange skins thrown into the river which symbolize the relics coveted by the Tibetan invaders Page 11 / 17
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, faithful looking for blessing under a hudge thangka or thongdrel depicting the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the mere vision of a holy thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric) is supposed to wash away the sins of a lifetime and lead to enlightenment
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Bhutan, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, Pazaps representing the soldiers of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who was the greatest king of Bhutan and at the origin of the unification of the country, watching the Tsechu (festival)
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Dzong, Buddhist fortress-monastery, Thangka or thongdrel depicting the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the mere vision of a holy thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric) is supposed to wash away the sins of a lifetime and lead to enlightenment
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of the four stags (Shazam), this dance is commemorating the subjugation of the God of Wind by Padmasambhava, the master defeated the God riding the stag which was his mount
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Bhutan, Punakha, Monks watching the Tsechu festival
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Ngawang Namgyal is Bhutan's greatest ruler who unified the country in the 1630s, representation of the heroic deeds of the shabdrung
Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival. The dancer wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism. The steps of the dancers make a mandala and draw in the space the triumph of the Buddhism over evil spirits.
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival. The dancer wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism. The steps of the dancers make a mandala and draw in the space the triumph of the Buddhism over evil spirits.
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival. The dancer wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism. The steps of the dancers make a mandala and draw in the space the triumph of the Buddhism over evil spirits.
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Atsaras (clowns) entertaining the audience with a wooden phallus
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival. The dancer wear a gold-winged, skull-capped helmet. The dance of the Black hats commemorates the murder in the year 842 of the Tibetan tyrant Langdarma, great destroyer of the Buddhism. The steps of the dancers make a mandala and draw in the space the triumph of the Buddhism over evil spirits.
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of Gins with swords, this dance is a visual representation of the heavenly paradise of Padmasambhava as seen by Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), patron Saint and treasure finder
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HEMIS_231294 : Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Monks unrolling a thangka or thongdrel (traditional painting on fabric) Page 15 / 17
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of Gins with swords, this dance is a visual representation of the heavenly paradise of Padmasambhava as seen by Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), patron Saint and treasure finder
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of the stag and the hounds (Shawo Shachi), this dance tells the conversion to Budhism of a hunter named Gonpo Dorje by the great Saint Milarepa (1040-1123)
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of Gins with drums, this dance is a visual representation of the heavenly paradise of Padmasambhava as seen by Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), patron Saint and treasure finder
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Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, Atsaras (clowns) entertaining the audience between the dances
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HEMIS_231304 : Bhutan, Punakha, Punakha Tsechu festival, dance of the four stags (Shazam), this dance is commemorating the subjugation of the God of Wind by Padmasambhava, the master defeated the God riding the stag which was his mount Page 17 / 17