a thongdrel (alt. throngdrel) is a large appliqué religious image normally only unveiled during "tsechus", the main religious festivals in bhutan. they are the largest form of "thangka" paintings in the tradition of tibetan buddhism. thongdrels typically depict a seated guru rinpoche surrounded by holy beings in a composition that, unlike most smaller thangkas, is in a "landscape" format, somewhat wider than it is tall.