Tamzhing Phala Choepa is a three-day annual festival honoring the Boar-God, held in the courtyard of Tamzhing Monastery in Bumthang. It is held from the 10th to the 12th day of the 8th month on the Bhutanese calendar. This Festival of Boar Dance is linked to the founding of Tamzhing Monastery in the 16th century by Terton Pema Lingpa and his protector, Dorji Phagmo.
The main events include the Phagchham (boar dance) and Ugay Wang (blessing of the leather bag). Phala Choedpa was named after Pema Lingpa, who performed a mask dance wearing a pig mask during the consecration of Tamshing Lhakhang.
This sacred event showcases Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage and spiritual traditions, and draws large crowds, including tourists. For 2026, it is scheduled for September 21–23.
How to Get to Tamshing Festival
Tamzhing Phala Choepa is held in the courtyard of Tamzhing Monastery in Bumthang. Travelers usually reach Bumthang by road or domestic flight to Bathpalathang Airport. From Jakar town, Tamshing Lhakhang is approximately a 15-minute drive through the valley.
Origin of Tamzhing Phala Choepa
According to legend, when selecting a location for the monastery, Terton Pema Lingpa’s protective deity, Vajravarahi, also known as Yidam Dorji Phagmo or the Diamond Sow, appeared as a pig and revealed the plan for Tamzhing Lhakhang. Legend has it that earth spirits sent a miraculous pig to help level the ground, and Pema Lingpa paid tribute by carving a pig mask.
After the Tamzhing Lhakhang was completed, five Ngapas, the manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, appeared in Pema Lingpa’s vision and revealed the ceremony’s procedures and the various dances to be performed during the monastery’s consecration.
During the consecration ceremony, Pema Lingpa performed the sacred boar dance wearing a boar mask he sculpted himself. Thus, the festival was called Phala Choedpa, an offering to the Boar-God.
Historical Significance of Tamzhing Phala Choepa
Tamzhing Phala Choepa is historically significant because it honors the lineage of Terton Pema Lingpa, who founded the Tamzhing monastery and initiated the festival. The festival features unique dances of Pema Lingpa, distinct from those seen at Tshechu or other Bhutanese festivals. Phala Choedpa serves as a religious offering and helps preserve the sacred dance traditions.
Highlights of Tamshing Phala Choepa
The three-day festival features a series of mask dances, including the unique Phagchham, performed by the lay Champon wearing a pig mask sculpted by Terton Pema Lingpa; the Khandroi Gar Cham, a 500-year-old dance; and Peling Sung Cham, the dance of Terton.
Phagchham (Pig Dance): This rare solo masked dance features the lay Champon wearing a pig/boar mask and carrying a leafy weeping willow branch in each hand. During the dance, he sweeps and swirls the willow branch as he leaps about, dancing in all four directions to sprinkle blessings. The boar dance symbolizes the subjugation of negative forces and is deeply tied to the monastery’s founding lineage.
Khandroi Gar Cham: A 500-year-old sacred dance performed during the consecration of Tamzhing Lhakhang. Dancers move in unison in precise choreography as they perform the Khandroi Gar Cham, or the dance of the Dakinis, accompanied by the soothing sounds of the Damaru and Drilbu.
Peling ging sum: This dance includes the Juging dance of the ging with sticks, Driging dance of the ging with swords, and Ngaging dance of the ging with drums. The dances are said to have originated from Pema Lingpa’s vision of Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal demonstrating the steps.
Tshangpai ging cham: The dance of the king of the gods, said to have been performed by five gods in Terton Pema Lingpa’s vision.
Sacred Peling Sung Cham: Sacred masked dances associated with the Pema Lingpa lineage. They are rarely performed outside Tamshing Lhakhang.
Ugay Wang, the Pakpa Wang, or Leather Bag Blessing
Ugay Wang, known as the Pakpa Wang or Leather Bag Blessing, is bestowed on the last day of Tamshing Phala Choedpa. Pema Lingpa initiated it in the 15th century.
During the blessing ceremony, devotees are struck with a leather bag believed to contain sacred relics that the local deity Tserma used to subdue demons in the 8th century. It is believed that being struck hard cures body aches and cleanses negative actions. This blessing is offered only during the Tamzhing Phala Choepa festival in Bumthang and is one of Bhutan’s unique events.
Mewang, the Fire Blessing
The Mewang, or fire blessing, is held on the night of the festival’s final day. During the blessing, devotees run through the blazing fires. They believe that if they pass through the fires on both sides three times, their negative actions, bad luck, and evils will be burned away. It is also intended to appease the deity for a successful conclusion and to pray for the conduct of Tamzhing Phala Choepa in the following year.
Conclusion
Tamzhing Phala Choedpa is not just a religious festival but a sacred legacy of Terton Pema Lingpa. Through its unique masked dances and sacred blessings such as the Ugay Wang and Mewang, the festival continues to bless devotees while preserving its ancient culture and traditions. For visitors, it’s a rare opportunity to witness Bhutan’s unique festival and way of life. If you attend the festival, you are not just experiencing a historical event but also witnessing the culture and traditions that have been preserved and passed down for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tamzhing Phala Choepa?
Tamzhing Phala Choepa is an annual three-day religious festival held at Tamzhing Lhakhang in Bumthang, Bhutan. It honors the 15th-century Terton (treasure revealer) Pema Lingpa and commemorates the consecration of Tamzhing Monastery, which he founded in 1501–1506. The festival is renowned for its sacred mask dances (Cham), including the historic Khandroi Gar Cham, and culminates in blessings from the temple’s sacred relics.
When is Tamzhing Phala Choepa held?
The festival takes place from the 10th to the 12th day of the 8th month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar.
Where is Tamzhing Phala Choepa celebrated?
Tamzhing Phala Choepa is celebrated in the courtyard of Tamzhing Lhakhang (Tamzhing Monastery) in Bumthang Valley, central Bhutan. The temple sits on the opposite bank of the Chamkhar Chhu river from Kurjey Lhakhang, a short drive from Jakar town.
Why is the festival called “Phala Choepa”?
“Phala” means pig and “Choepa” means offering or festival. The name comes from a mask dance performed by Pema Lingpa wearing a pig mask he carved himself. According to tradition, his protective deity, Dorji Phagmo (Vajravarahi), appeared in the form of a pig to reveal the site and design for Tamzhing Monastery, and the festival commemorates this visionary event.
What are the main highlights of Tamzhing Phala Choepa?
Key highlights include the Khandroi Gar Cham, a 500-year-old dance linked to the monastery’s consecration, and other sacred Cham dances performed by monks using masks traditionally attributed to Pema Lingpa. The festival also features the Ugay wang (blessing ceremony), where devotees receive blessings from the temple’s nangtens (sacred relics), believed to cleanse negative karma and relieve body aches.
Who can attend Tamzhing Phala Choepa?
The festival is open to both locals and international tourists. Visitors are welcome to observe the Cham dances in the monastery courtyard and receive blessings during the Ugay wang. As with all religious sites in Bhutan, guests should dress modestly and follow monastery etiquette.
How do I plan a visit for Tamzhing Phala Choepa?
Travelers typically fly into Paro and take a domestic flight or drive to Bumthang. Accommodation is available in Jakar and nearby villages.
Is Tamzhing Phala Choepa the same as Tamzhing Tshechu?
Tamzhing Phala Choepa is sometimes referred to as Tamzhing Tshechu. However, Phala Choepa is a smaller, more intimate festival focused on Pema Lingpa’s lineage and the original consecration of Tamzhing Lhakhang.
