Ura Yakchoe Festival
Ura Yakchoe Festival is held in Ura,Bumthang. The Ura Yakchoe Festival is referred to as a sacred dance performance that is held in Ura Lhakhang.
The festival has a historical reference that depicts the story of a Lama and a woman. According to Bhutanese legend an old woman sitting outside her house. She was asked by a lama asking for a drink of water. When she came out of her house with the water she could not see the lama. The lama had vanished leaving behind only a bag. She checked the bag and found the statue inside the bag. The woman peered inside the sack and found a statue of Chana Dorje also known as Vajrapani who was the protector and guide of Buddha. Now it is displayed during The festival annually. Since then, the statue has been owned by the woman’s descendants and it is during the Ura Yakchoe Festival when the statue is carried down the valley to Ura Lhakhang followed by dancing and drinking in a procession.
Ura Lhakhang is situated in the middle of Ura village in Bumthang. It was built in the 1980s. Inside is a huge statue of Guru Rimpoche and beautiful paintings. Guru Nangsay Zilnoen is the main statue. The event is a 5-day program,
Ura Yakchoe Festival Program:
Day 1. Receiving of a sacred treasure (Chagdhor Toen), a manifestation of Vajrapani from Gaden Temple to Ura Lhakhang.
Day 2. Shinji Phomo, Dramitse Ngachham, Throchu, Zhanak and Ajophento.
Day 3. Draleypangtey, Chhungzhi, Peling Gingsum, Tsholing Ging and Pholek Molek.
Day 4. Shazam, Raksha Mangchham, and Shawa Shakhe.
Day 5. Thongdroel, Yedam wang and Pachham.
Once completing the Ura Yakchoe Festival, Tourists can explore the beauty of Ura Valley.