Bhutan Tours

Festivals

One of the main attractions of the kingdom is its annual religious festivals, the tsechus celebrated to honor Guru Padmasambhava (more commonly referred to as "Guru Rinpoche"). All of Guru Rinpoche's great deeds are believed to have taken place on the 10th day of the month, which is the meaning of the word tsechu. Tsechus are celebrated for several days and are the occasion for dances that are clearly defined in religious content. The religious dances called "cham" can be grouped into three broad categories: dramas with a moral, dances for purification and protection from harmful spirits and dances that proclaim the victory of Buddhism and the glory of Guru Rinpoche. The dancers, either monks or laymen, wear spectacular costumes of bright silk or brocade, ornate hats and extraordinary masks.

Another highlight of the Tsechus are the Atsaras or clowns who are believed to represent Acharyas, religious masters of India. They confront the monks, toss out salacious jokes, and distract the crowd with their antics whenever the religious dances begin to grow tedious. They are the only people permitted to mock religion in a society where sacred matters are treated with the highest respect.

For the Bhutanese, attendance at religious festivals offers an opportunity to become immersed in the meaning of their religion and to gain much merit. The festivals are also occasions for seeing people, and for being seen, for social exchanges, and for flaunting success.

FESTIVAL DATES TILL - 2018 To 2019(Respectively)

Festival	Place	2018 Dates	2019 Dates
Nomad Festival	Nagsephel,Bumthang	23^rd–24^thFebruary	23^rd–24^thFebruary
Bhutan International Marathon	Thimphu,Bhutan(Annual event organized by bhutan olympic committee)	5^th March	5^th March
Punakha Drubchen	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	21^st- 24^thFebruary	12^th- 14^thFebruary
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	25^th- 27^thFebruary	15^th- 17^thFebruary
Shingkhar Metochodpa	Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang	28 ^th December	28 ^th December
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Tharpalinglhakhang, chhumi, bumthang	2^nd March	19^th February
Chhorten Kora	Chortenkora, Trashiyangtshe	31^st - 16^thApril	21^st - 5^thApril
Gomphukora	Gomkoralhakhang, Trashigang	25^th - 26^thMarch	14^th - 16^thMarch
Talo Tshechu	Talogonpo, punakha	24^th - 26^thMarch	14^th - 16^thMarch
Gasa Tshechu	Gasadzong, Gasa	4^th - 6^thMarch	14^th - 16^thMarch
Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgangdzong, zhemgang	24^th - 27^thMarch	14^th - 17^thMarch
Paro Tshechu	Rinpung Dzong, PARO	27^st - 31^stMarch	17^th - 21^stMarch
Rhododendron Festival	Lamperi botanical garden, Dochula, thimphu	20th -22th April	19th -21st April
Domkhar Tshechu	Domkhar, chummi, bumthang	25^th -27^th March	14^th -16^th April
Ura Yakchoe	Uralhakhang, Bumthang	26^th -29^th April	16^th -20^th April
Saktang festival	Saktangkhakhang, Trashigang	24th -27th June	24th -27th June
Nimalung Tshechu	Nimalungdratshang, Chummi, bumthang	21 st -23 rd june	10 th -11 th July
Trelda Tshechu	Drametse, mongar	24th -26th June	24th -26th June
Jambay Lhakhang Drub	Kurjeylhakhang, choekhor	24th–27th October	24th–27th October
Haa summer Festival	Town festival ground, haa	14th-15th July	13th-14th July
Merak Tshechu	Meraklhakhang, Trashigang	14th -15th August	14th -15th August
Masutake Mushroom festival	Ura, bumthang	23rd-24th August	23rd-24th August
Chha festival	Tagmochhu,lhuentse	27th -30th August	27th -30th August
Tour of the dragon (bicycle race)	Bumthang to thimphu	5th September	7th September
Wangdue Tshechu	Tencholing army ground, Wangduephodrang	17th–19th September	5th–7th October
Thimphu Drubchen	Tashichhodzong, Thimphu	15th September	15th September
Gangtey Tshechu	Gangteygonpa, phobjikha, wanduephodrang	17th–19th September	3rd October
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Tamshinglhakhang, Choekhor, bumthang	19th–21st September	7th-9th October
Thimphu Tshechu	Tashichhodzong, Thimphu	19th–21st September	7th-9th October
Thangbi Mani	Tangbilhakhang, choekor, Bumthang	23rd–25th September	10th-13th October
Prakhar Duchhoed	Prakarlhakhang, chummi, Bumthang	25th–27th October	14th–16th November
Jomolhari Mountain Festival	Dangojang	7th-8th October	25th-26th October
Chhukha Tshechu	Chhukhadzong, chhukha	20th-22nd October	6th-9th November
Jakar Tshechu	Jakardzong, choekhor, bumthang	21st-23rd October	5th-9th November
Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatsheldzong, Pemagatshel	20th-23rd October	11th-13th November
Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangteygonpa, phobjikha, Wangduephodrang	11th November	29th October
Mongar Tshechu Festival	Mongardzong, mongar	17th–21st November	4th–6th December
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigangdzong, trashigang	7th-11th November	5th-7th December
Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaalhakhang, choekhor, bumthang	25th-27th November	25th-27th November
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Jambaylhakhang, choekhor, Bumthang	27th-30th October	13th-16th November
Kangso Tshechu	Drametse, mongar	23rd-26th November	23rd-26th November
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Dochula, thimphu	13th December	13th December
Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsadzong, trongsa	20th-22nd December	20th-22nd December
Lhuentsetshechu	Lhuentsedzong, Lhuentse	7th-11th December	7th-11th December
Lhuentse Tshechu	Daganatshechu	19th-23rd december	04th-07th January

NOTE: - Religious festival dates are tentative, please confirm with your tour operator prior Tentative Festival Dates for 2018-2019 to booking your holiday.

Black Necked Cranes Festival:
The Blacked Necked Crane Festival is held anually on 11th November coinciding with the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck ,at Gangtey, Phobjikha. The festival date has been fixed for 11th November so that the locals and students can participate in it too.

Festival Custom:
Festivals are religious events. The ground where they are held is purified and blessed by lamas, so when you are watching a festival you are, in essence, on the perimeter of an outdoor religious ground. The dancers, whether monks or laymen, are in a state of meditation. They transform themselves into the deities which they represent on the dance ground. They generate a spiritual power, which cleanses, purifies, enlightens and blesses the spectators.

With this in mind, it should be clear that obtrusive, disrespectful or discourteous behavior is out of place. Remember, too, that smoking is not permitted in public places in Bhutan. The dance ground is not a place to eat, drink, talk or laugh loudly at inappropriate times, flash cameras or intrude on the dance space. Common courtesy should rule one's action when photographing dances or onlookers.

Festivals are not pageants or entertainment events. They are not held as tourist attractions. They are genuine manifestations of religious traditions thousands of years old which outsiders are given the privilege of witnessing.

Festivals are held all the year round at temples, dzongs and monasteries throughout Bhutan. Attendance at one of these religious events provides an opportunity for the outsider to experience the extraordinary.