festival!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (by Maya)

In Bhutan so far we have been to two festivals or Tsechus. One in Thimphu and one in Bumthang. 

 We saw two different styles of Tsechus on two different days.  On the first day in Thimphu we stayed about an hour of dancing. 

 The Thimphu tsechu was very organized even though there were many more people.  It was the first day and a special relic was brought from Bhodgaya and contained a tooth of the Bhudda.  There was a huge mob of happy elders to see it.

In Bumthang, it was much different. The outside of the monastery was lined with street sellers, selling their imported wares. 

Most of dancing was the same (beautiful mask dances, some by monks, some by villagers)

But at the end we were very surprised. A man was announcing something in Dzongka and the next thing you know there was huge rush to get a blessing (to go to the head monk and bow, then give a small donation).

After that you will get hit by huge leather mallet that supposedly cleanse your sins.     See it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1BV7T0NEEY