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
Punakha Drubchen	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	11th  – 13th Feb
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	14th  – 17th Feb
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Tharpaling Lhakhang,  Chumi, Bumthang	19th Feb
Gomphukora	Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang	14th  – 16th  March
Talo Tshechu	Talo Gonpa, Punakha	14th – 16th March
Gasa Tshechu	Gasa Dzong, Gasa	14th – 16th March
Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang	14th – 17th March
Paro Tshechu	Rinpung Dzong, Paro	17th – 21st March (Thongdral on last day)
Chhorten Kora	Chorten Kora,  Trashiyangtshe	21st March & 5th April
Rhododendron Festival	Lamperi Botanical Garden, Dochula, Thimphu	19th – 21st April
Domkhar Tshechu	Domkhar, Chumni, Bumthang.	14th – 16th April
Ura Yakchoe	Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang	16th – 20th April
Nimalung Tshechu	Nimalung Dratshang, Chumni, Bumthang	10th – 11th July
Kurjey Tshechu	Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	11th July
Haa Summer Festival	Haa	13th & 14th July
Mushroom Festival	Genekha, Thimphu.	15th & 16th Aug
Masutaki Mushroom Festival	Ura, Bumthang	23rd & 24th Aug
Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race)	Bumthang to Thimphu	7th Sept
Thimphu Drubchen	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	3rd Oct
Wangdue Tshechu	Tencholing Army Ground, Wangduephodrang.	5th – 7th Oct
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang	7th – 9th Oct
Thimphu Tshechu	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	7th – 9th Oct
Gangtey Tshechu	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha,Wangduephodrang.	10th – 13th Oct (Thongdral on last day)
Thangbi Mani	Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang	10th – 13th Oct
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Dangochong, Thimphu	14th & 15th Oct
Chhukha Tshechu	Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha	6th – 8th Nov
Jakar Tshechu	Jakar Dzong, Choekhor,  Bumthang.	5th – 9th Nov
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	13th – 16th Nov
Prakhar Duchhoed	Prakar Khakhang, Chumni, Bumthang	14th – 16th Nov
Dechenphu Tshechu	Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu	8th Nov
Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang.	11th Nov
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar Dzong, Mongar	4th – 6th Dec
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang.	5th – 7th Dec
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	12th Dec
Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel.	11th – 13 Nov (Thongdral on last day)
Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	12th – 14th  Dec
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Douchula , Thimphu	13th  Dec
Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa	4th – 7th Jan, 2020 (Thongdral on last day)
Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse	4th – 7th Jan, 2020 (Thongdral on last day)
Nabji Lhakhang Drup	Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa	10th – 12th Jan, 2020

 

Dates are accurate as of March 2018. These are tentative dates for the calendar year. 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.