Village Tshechu Under Depopulation: Ritual Remittance and the Moral Economy of Merit in Eastern Bhutan

Abstract

This article examines how village tshechu in eastern Bhutan are being reshaped in the context of migration and depopulation. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Bartsham gewog between 2022 and 2024, it analyses how declining populations affect the organization, participation, and meaning of these festivals. The study highlights a reduction in key actors—such as tsawa (organizer) and tshechupa (guests)—which undermines the social and spiritual foundations of village tshechu. While financial support from out-migrants has increased, this “ritual remittance” cannot fully compensate for the loss of local participation. The article argues that depopulation disrupts the moral economy of merit that sustains ritual life, transforming both the practice of Buddhism and community cohesion. Ultimately, the decline of village tshechu represents not only cultural loss but an existential challenge for rural Bhutanese communities.