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All districts, and a large number of villages in the east, have annual Tshechu festivals which attract people from various places. Tshechus are celebrated for several days (three to five), according to their location, and are an occasion for religious dances. Theses dances can be performed by monks, laymen or gomchens (practicing ) and the repertory is practically the same everywhere.

Atsaras are clowns, with their expressive masks and postures, are an indispensable element in any religious festival. They confront the monks, toss out salacious jokes, and distract the crowd with their antics when the religious dances begin to grow tedious. Believed to represent Acharyas (religious masters of India) they are the only people permitted to mock religion in a society where sacred matters are treated with the highest respect. For a few days these popular entertainers are allowed the freedom to express a formulaic challenge within an established framework that does not, however upset the social and religious order.

Some tshechus end with the displaying of a huge applique thangkha called "Thongdroel". The Thongdroel is unveiled at first light to bring enlightenment to all who view it. The faithful believe that by simply viewing this Thongdroel, they can be delivered from the cycle of reincarnations,

For the Bhutanese, religious festivals offer an opportunity to become immersed in the meaning of their religion and gain much merit. They are also occasions for seeing people, and for being seen, for social exchanges, and for flaunting success. People bring out their finest clothes, their most beautiful jeweleries, and go for picnic with abundant alcohol and meat. Men and women joke and flirt. An atmosphere of convivial, slightly ribald good humor prevails .

Religious Dances & Music
Religious dances performed during festivals can be grouped into three broad categories; Instructive or Didactic dances with a moral (dance of the princesses, the dances of the stag and hunting dog, the dance of the judgement of the dead); dances that purify and jprotect a place from demonic spirits (dance of the masters of cremation ground, the dance of the stage, the dance of the fearsome deities, the dance of the black hats, the dance of the ging with swords); and dances that proclaim the victory of Buddhism and the glory of Guru Rimpoche.
Religious dances are called 'chams'. Dancers wear spectacular costumes made of yellow silk or rich brocade, often decorated with ornaments of carved bone. For certain dances they wear masks which may represent animals, fearsome deities, skulls, manifestions of Guru Rimpoche and just simple human beings. These masks are so heavy that dancers protect themselves from injury by binding their heads with strip of cloth to support the mask and they see out from opening of the mouth.