PLAN YOUR OWN FESTIVAL. Bhutan is noted for its Tshechus, or festivals, which are held annually on dates which are chosen by the lamas according to the Buddhist lunar calendar. The festivals are held on the tenth day of the lunar month, in honor of Guru Rinpoche, the great Indian tantric saint who brought the teachings of the Buddhist Dharma from Tibet to Bhutan in the 8th century, because it is on the tenth day that he is said to have performed his great deeds. Each locality has a certain time of year during which the festival is performed. These Tsechus are also large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages. Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce. This is a great time to see and inter-mingle with villagers from far and near that congregate – sometimes walking for days and weeks – to participate in the festival. The festivals are generally preceded by a rituals and dances performed by monks or trained laymen in beautiful costumes of brilliantly colored silk and papier mache masks to the accompaniment of traditional instruments. The dances are usually held in the open courtyard of the local Dzong, or monastery/district administrative center, and attended by the local people who come to receive the blessings conferred upon the onlookers. This is a great time to be in the Dragon Kingdom.
If our published programs and dates do not match your timings or preference, then look through the 2012 Festival Dates here and call us to MAKE YOUR OWN FESTIVAL TOUR around these dates.
| FESTIVAL | PLACE | DATES |
|---|---|---|
| 1. BHUTANESE NEW YEAR | Throughout the Kingdom | Feb 22 - 23 |
| 2. HIS MAJESTY'S BIRTHDAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Feb 21, 22, 23 |
| 3. NOMADS FESTIVAL | Bumthang | Feb 23 - 25 |
| 4. MAACHAM AT PUNAKHA DZONG | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Feb 29 |
| 5. SERDA PROCESSION | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Mar 02 |
| 6. THONDREL PUNAKHA | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Mar 03 |
| 7. PUNAKHA TSECHU | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Mar 03 - 05 |
| 8. CHORTEN KORA I | Trashi Yangste | Mar 08 |
| 9. CHORTEN KORA II | Trashi Yangste | Mar 22 |
| 10. DZONGDRAKHA FESTIVAL | Paro Valley (near Bonde village) | Mar 31 |
| 11. GOMPHU KORA | Trashighang | Mar 31 - Apr 02 |
| 12. PARO FESTIVAL INSIDE DZONG | Paro Dzong, Paro | Apr 02 |
| 13. PARO FESTIVAL - COURTYARD | Paro Dzong, Paro | Apr 03 - 05 |
| 14. PARO THONGDREL | Paro Dzong, Paro | Apr 06 |
| 15. CHHUKHA TSECHU | Chhukha | Apr 04 - 06 |
| 16. NIZERGANG TSECHU | Wangdifodrang, Wangdue | Mar 31 - Apr 02 |
| 17. TALO TSECHU | Punakha | Mar 31 - Apr 01 |
| 18. TALO THONGDREL | Punakha | Apr 02 |
| 19. KING III BIRTHDAY | Throughout the Kingdom | May 02 |
| 20. URA TSECHU | Ura, Bumthang | May 05 - 06 |
| 21. LORD BUDDHA PARINIRVNA | Throughout the Kingdom | Jun 04 |
| 22. NIMALUNG TSECHU | Bumthang | Jun 27 - 29 |
| 23. KURJEY TSECHU | Bumthang | Jun 29 |
| 24. GURU'S BIRTHDAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Jun 29 |
| 25. HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL | Haa, Haa Valley | Jul 07 - 08 |
| 26. FIRST SERMON OF LORD BUDDHA | Throughout the Kingdom | Jul 23 |
| 27. LHAM TSOM DANCE | Thimphu | Sep 21 |
| 28. BLESSING RAINY DAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Sep 22 |
| 29. WANGDI PHODRANG FESTIVAL | Wangdiphodrang, Wangdue | Sep 22 - 25 |
| 30. THIMPHU TSECHU | Tashichodzong, Thimphu | Sep 25 - 27 |
| 31. TAMSHING CHOEDPA | Tamshing Lhakhang Choekhor Valley, Bumthang | Sep 24 - 26 |
| 32. GASA TSECHU | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | Sep 25 - 27 |
| 33. THANGBI MANI | Thangbi Ihakhang, Choekhor Valley, Bumthang | Sep 29 -30 |
| 34. SHELMAKHA DROMCHOED | Chhukha | Oct 15 - 16 |
| 35. SHINGKHAR RABNEY | Shingkhar, Ura, Bumthang | Oct 20 - 24 |
| 36. JAKAR TSECHU | Jakar Dzong, Bumthang | Oct 22 - 25 |
| 37. JAMBAY DRUP | Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang | Oct 29 - 31 |
| 38. PRAKAR TSECHU | Prakhar Lhakhang, Chummi Valley, Bumthang | Oct 30 - 31 |
| 39. CONSTITUTION DAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Nov 01 |
| 40. DESCENDING DAY OF LORD BUDDHA | Throughout the Kingdom | Nov 06 |
| 41. CRANE FESTIVAL | Gantey Gompa, Phobjhika Valley | Nov 11 |
| 42. SUMDRANG KANGSOL | Ura Valley, Bumthang | Nov 11 - 13 |
| 43. CHILDREN'S DAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Nov 11 |
| 44. MONGAR TSECHU | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | Nov 20 - 23 |
| 45. PEMAGATSHEL TSECHU | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel | Nov 20 - 23 |
| 46. TRASHIGHANG TSECHU | Trashighang Dz., Trashighang | Nov 20 - 24 |
| 47. TANG NAMKHA RABNEY | Tang Namkha Lhakhang Tang, Bumthang | Nov 21 - 23 |
| 48. NANG LHAKHANG TSECHU | Bumthang | Nov 28 - 30 |
| 49. NATIONAL DAY | Throughout the Kingdom | Dec 17 |
| 50. TRONGSA TSECHU | Trongsa Dzong, Tsongsa | Dec 21 - 23 |
| 51. LHUNTSE TSECHU | Lhuntse | Dec 21 - 23 |
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* Dates are accurate as of January 2012. We do our best, but dates may change due to re-calculation and other issues. |
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