Talo festival, renowned for its mask dances and atsara performances, features an equally popular attraction of deep religious and historical significance—the zhungdra, a Bhutanese classical dance performed by the Talo dance troupe. As the closing item on each day of the three-day Talo festival, the zhundra set consists of the three songs of Mani Sum. Samyi Sala, performed on the first day, Drukpa Dungey on the second day, and Thowachi Gangi Tselay on the final day, are the pride of the Talo people, symbolizing their cultural heritage and traditions.
Overview
The festival is one of the beautiful festivals celebrated in the village of the Royals. The Talo festival takes place in the quaint town of Talo at Talo Monastery, approximately one hour drive from Punakha and situated at an elevation of 2800 m.
Talo festival is a popular annual festival that is celebrated in the Punakha district of Bhutan. The festival takes place in the Talo monastery, which is located in the Talo village. The festival usually takes place in the month of March and is celebrated for three days.
During the festival, monks perform religious rituals and traditional dances. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Bhutanese people over an invading army from Tibet in the 17th century. The festival is also a celebration of the harvest season and is an occasion for the villagers to come together and enjoy the festivities.
One of the main highlights of the festival is the mask dance, which is performed by the monks. The dance is believed to have originated in the 8th century and is performed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity. The mask dance accompanies traditional music on instruments such as cymbals, drums, and horns.
Another important aspect of the Talo festival is the display of the thongdrol, a large religious scroll that is unfurled during the festival. The thongdrol is believed to have the power to cleanse the sins of those who see it.
Highlights
- Witness the most secret Mask Dance.
- Enjoy the dance performed by locals.
- Scenic beauty of Talo village (Village of Royals)
- Meet the locals