2017

Bhutan Festival Dates

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 tentative Festival Dates here and call us to build a personalized trip based on your desired festival dates.

FESTIVAL PLACE DATES
Nabji Lhakhang Drup (Naked Fire Dancers) Nabji Village, Trongsa Jan 12 – 14, 2017
Bhutanese New Year Throughout the Kingdom
 Punakha Drubchen Punakha Dzong, Punakha Mar 02 – 06, 2017
 Punakha Tsechu  Punakha Dzong, Punakha Mar 07 – 09, 2017
 Thongdrel Punakha Punakha Dzong, Punakha Mar 09, 2017
 His Majesty’s Birthday Throughout the Kingdom Feb  21,22, 23, 2017
 Chorten Kora I Trashi Yangste Apr 11, 2017
 Nomads Festival Bumthang
 Chorten Kora II Trashi Yangste Apr 26, 2017
 Gasa Tsechu Gasa Dzong, Gasa
 Zhemgang Tsechu Zhemghang Dzong, Zhemgang
 Talo Tsechu Talo (near Punakha)
 Gomphu Kora Gom Kora Lhakhang Trashighang Apr 04 – 06, 2017
 Paro Tshechu Rinpung Dzong, Paro Apr 07 – 11, 2017
 Dzongdrakha Festival (Last day  of Paro Festival) Paro Valley (near Bonde village) Apr 06  & 12, 2017
 Domkhar Tsechu Chummey Valley, Bumthang
 Rhododendrong Spring Festival Near Thimphu Apr 18 – 20, 2017
 King III Birthday Throughout the Kingdom May 02, 2017
 Ura Yakchoe Ura, Bumthang May 07 – 10, 2017
 Nizergang Tsechu Wangdifodrang, Wangdue
 Lord Buddha Parinirvna Throughout the Kingdom
 Kurjey Tsechu Kurjey Lhakhang

Choekhor,  Bumthang

Jul 03, 2017
 Haa Summer Festival Haa, Haa Valley
 Guru’s Birthday Throughout the Kingdom
 First Sermon of Lord Buddha Throughout the Kingdom
 Lham Tsom Dance Thimphu
 Blessing Rainy Day Throughout the Kingdom
 Matsutake Mushroom Festival Ura Village, Bumthang Aug 22 – 23, 2017
Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race) Bumthang – Thimphu Sep 02, 2017
 Thimphu Drubchen Tashichodzong, Thimphu Sep 25 – 29, 2017
 Wangdi Phodrang Festival Tencholing Army Grounds Wangdiphodrang, Wangdue Sep 28 – 30, 2017
 Gangtey Tsechu Gangtey, Phobjhika Valley
 Tamshing Phala  Choedpa Tamshing Lhakhang

Choekhor Valley, Bumthang

Sep 30 – Oct 02, 2017
 Thimphu Tsechu Tashichodzong, Thimphu Sep 30 – Oct 02, 2017
 Thangbi Mani Thangbi lhakhang,

Choekhor Valley, Bumthang

Oct 04 – 06, 2017
 Shelmakha Dromchoed Chhukha
 Shingkhar Rabney Shingkhar, Ura, Bumthang
 Chhukha Tsechu Chhukha Dzong, Chukha
 Jakar Tsechu Jakar Dzong, Bumthang
 Pemagatshel Tsechu Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel Nov 01 – 03, 2017
 Jambay Lhakhang Drup Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang Nov 03 – 06, 2017
 Black Necked Crane Festival Gantey Gompa, Phobjhika Valley Nov 11, 2017
 Children’s Day Throughout the Kingdom Nov 11, 2017
 Prakhar Duchhoed Prakhar Lhakhang,

Chummi Valley, Bumthang

Nov 15 -17,  2016
 Constitution Day Throughout the Kingdom
 Descending Day of Lord      Buddha Throughout the Kingdom
 Mongar Tsechu Mongar Dzong, Mongar Nov 25 – 28, 2017
Trashighang Tsechu Trashighang Dz. Trashighang Nov 26 – 29, 2017
 Jambe Lakhang, Singhe  Cham Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhar valley, Bumthang Dec 03, 2017
 Sumdrang Kangsol Ura Valley, Bumthang
Tang Namkha Rabney Tang Namkha Lhakhang Tang, Bumthang
 Nang Lhakhang Tsechu Ngaa Lhakhang, Bumthang Dec 03 – 05, 2017
 Druk Wangyel Tshechu Do Chu La, Near Thimphu Dec 13, 2017
 National Day Throughout the Kingdom Dec 17, 2017
 Trongsa Tsechu Trongsa Dzong, Tsongsa Dec 25 – 28, 2017
 Lhuntse Tsechu Lhuntse Dec 25 – 28, 2017
 Nabji Lhakhang Drup Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa
Dates are accurate as of June 2016. These are tentative dates for the calendar year.
We do our best, but dates may change due to re-calculation and other issues