2024

Bhutan Festival Dates

Festivals

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.

  Punakha Drubchen   Punakha Dzong, Punakha   16th -18th Feb  

  

  Punakha Tshechu   Punakha Dzong, Punakha   19th -21st. Feb  
  Tharpaling Thongdrol   Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang   24th Feb  
  Gomphukora   Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang   17th -19th March  

  

  Talo Tshechu   Talo Gonpa, Punakha   17th -19th March  

  

    Gasa Tshechu   

  

Gasa Dzong, Gasa   17th -19th March  

  

  Zhemgang Tshechu   Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang   17th -19th March  

  

  Paro Tshechu   Rinpung Dzong, Paro   20th -24th March  

(Thongdral on last day)  

  

  Chhorten Kora   Chorten Kora,  Trashiyangtshe   25th March  & 8th April  

  

10   Domkhar Tshechu   Domkhar, Chumi, Bumthang.   18th -20th April     

  

11   Ura Yakchoe   Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang    20th -24th  April  

  

12   Nimalung Tshechu   Nimalung Dratshang, Chumi, Bumthang    14th -16th  June  

  

13   Kurjey Tshechu   Kurjey Lhakhang,  

Choekhor, Bumthang  

16th June  

  

14   Tour of the Dragon  

(Mountain Bike  

Race)  

Bumthang to Thimphu   2nd  Sept  
15   Thimphu Drubchen   Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu   8th  Sept  

  

16   Wangdue Tshechu   Wangduephodrang   11th -13th  Sept  

  

17   Tamshing Phala Chhoepa    Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang   13th -15th Sept   

  

18   Thimphu Tshechu   Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu   12th -14th Sept   

  

19   Gangtey Tshechu   Gangtey Gonpa,  

Wangduephodrang  

16th -18th Sept   

(Thongdral on last day)  

  

20   Thangbi Mani   Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang   17th -19th Sept   

  

21   Jhomolhari Mountain  

Festival  

Dangochong, Thimphu  

  

14th -15th Oct  
22   Chhukha Tshechu    Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha   10th  -12th Oct   

  

23   Jakar Tshechu    Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang.   10th  -12th Oct   

  

24   Jambay Lhakhang Drup   Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang   17th -21st Oct  

  

25   Prakhar Duchhoed   Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang   18th -20th  Oct  

  

26   Dechenphu Tshechu   Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu   12th Oct  

  

27   Black Necked Crane  

Festival  

Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang.   11th Nov  
28   Mongar Tshechu    Mongar Dzong, Mongar   9th -11th Nov  

  

29   Trashigang Tshechu   Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang.   9th -11th Nov  

  

30   Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham   Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang   15th Nov  

  

31   Pemagatshel Tshechu   Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel.   9th -11th Nov  

 (Thongdral on last day)  

  

32   Nalakhar Tshechu   Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang   15th -17th Nov  

  

33   Druk Wangyel Tshechu   Douchula ,  

Thimphu  

13th Dec  
34   Trongsa Tshechu   Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa   8th -10th Dec  

(Thongdral on last day)  

  

35   Lhuentse Tshechu   Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse    8th -10th Dec  

 (Thongdral on last day)  

  

36   Nabji Lhakhang Drup   Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa   15th-16th Dec  

  

37   Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu   Samdrupjongkhar   13th -15th Dec  

  

Tentatives dates are accurate as of November 2023 courtesy of the Tourism Council of Bhutan
We do our best, but dates may change due to re-calculation and other issues.
Please double check all dates and festivals with Bhutan Travel.