Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Paro festival

At the Paro Festival, a large and beautifully appliquéd Thanka scroll known as a Tongdrol is exhibited for a few hours, at day break of the final day of the festival, enabling the people to obtain its blessing, as this holy scroll confers liberation by the mere sight of it (Tongdrol in Bhutanese).

On the last day of Tsechu, rise before dawn to attend the display of the great Thongdrol. An intricately appliqued and embroidered silk scroll measuring 12,20 x 18,30 meter. This work of art pictures the eight manisfestations of Guru Rinpoche, the Second Buddha and the founder of Tantric Buddhism. Thangkas such as this one are regarded as great treasures and are displayed only once a year for a few hours. It is believed that the mere sight of the Thongdrol brings salvation to the beholder. The festival area fills with people from all over the country well before dawn. People offer butter lamps and receive Thongdrol blessings. Monks dance cheerfully beating on double-sided drums with curved drumsticks. The Thongdrol is then let down to the ground and ceremoniously rolled and folded away before the first rays of the sun can reach it. Following the display of the Thongdrol, the Tsechu continues throughout the day with the performances of several additional dances.

The Lamas (priests) enter the yard playing the Nga (drum), the Kangling (trumpet), the Gyaling (oboe) and the Rolmo (cymbals).

A scene out of the performance during the Paro festival called Paro Tsechu. The red deers symbolize the savers of the humanity.