(in Tibetan pronounced as /tʂáɕi tèle/) is a Tibetan expression used to greet, congratulate or wish someone good luck. It is also used in Bhutan and Northeast India in the same way. is associated with Losar, the Tibetan festival celebrating the lunisolar new year.[1]
(in Tibetan pronounced as /tʂáɕi/) means 'auspicious' and (in Tibetan pronounced as /tèle/, also rendered as or) means 'fine' or 'well'. It is difficult and perhaps impossible to translate properly into English. Different authors render it as 'Blessings and good luck' or 'May all auspicious signs come to this environment'.
is traditionally used as part of a larger invocation on Losar.[2] [3] With the Dalai Lama's exile and creation of the Tibetan diaspora, exile authorities promoted the use of as an all-purpose greeting which could be easily picked up by foreign sponsors.[2] Students of the exile school system are taught that this usage of has roots in premodern Tibet, and that Chinese Tibetans' exclusive usage of for New Year's is corrupt.[3] Tour operators have promoted the phrase, along with khata scarves and prayer flags, as essentialized and commodifiable aspects of Tibetan culture, a fact that has caused resentment among some religious Tibetans.[4]
The phrase is also used in Chinese with the Chinese transcription (Chinese: 扎西德勒). There is a song called with lyrics by, a Tibetan, and music by, a Han Chinese.[5]
The phrase is also used in Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. "" is the name of a website that provides information on the nation of Bhutan and promotes tourism.[6] There is a company in Bhutan called TashiDelek.com[7] and a Hotel Tashi Delek in Gangtok, Sikkim. The inflight magazine of the Bhutanese airline Druk Air is called Tashi Delek.[8]