Festivals
In
addition to the standard Buddhist festivals, there are yearly festivals
celebrated with great fanfare in each district. The most renowned of
these are the Tsechu (10th day) festivals, commemorating Padmasambhava,
locally referred to as 'Guru Rimpoche' this eighth century master,
introduced the Nyingma school of Buddhism in Bhutan. Most festivals
lasts from three to five days - one of which, usually, falls on the 10th
day of the lunar calendar.
The regional Dzong and remote village communities
hold their distinct annual Tsechu festival, providing the local populace
with a wonderful occasion to dress up, gather together, and enjoy, in a
convivial light-hearted atmosphere. It is also an occasion to renew
their faith and receive blessings by watching the sacred dances, or
receiving 'empowerment' from a lama or Buddhist monk. The dances,
each aspect of which has a symbolic meaning, are performed by trained
monks and laymen wearing ornate costumes, and, in some cases, impressive
masks. At Paro, Wangdu, Mongar and Tashigang, among other places, a
large 'thanka' scroll known as a Tongdrol is exhihited for a few hours,
at day break of the final day of the festival, enabling the people to
obtain its blessing, since such scrolls confer liberation by the mere
sight of it.
Tentative festival dates for 2010 |
| Festival | Place | Dates |
| Punakha Dromche | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 20-23 Feb. |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 24-26 Feb. |
| Chorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtse | 28 Feb. & 15 Mar. |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chummi, Bumthang | 28 Feb. |
| Tangsibi Mani (Ura) | Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 27 Feb.- 3 Mar. |
| Bulli Mani (Chummi) | Buli Lhakhang, Chummi, Bumthang | 1-3 Mar. |
| Gaden Chodpa (Ura) | Gaden Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 13-15 Mar. |
| Gomkora | Gom Kora lhakhang, Trashigang | 23 - 25 Mar. |
| Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 26 - 30 Mar. |
| Chukha Tshechu | Chukha | 28-30 Mar. |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Chummi, Bumthang | 23-25 Mar. |
| Ura Yakchoe | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 24-28 Apr. |
| Padsel-Ling Kuchod | Padsel-ling Gonpa, Choekhor, Bumthang | 2-3 June. |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi, Bumthang | 19-21 June |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 21 June |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 12-16 Sept. |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdi Dzong, Wangduephodrang | 15 - 17 Sept. |
| Tamshingphala Choepa | Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 16 - 18 Sept. |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashichhodzong, Thimphu | 17-19 Sept. |
| Tangbi Mani | Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 22-24 Sept. |
| Shingkhar Rabney (Ura) | Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 13-17 Oct. |
| Jakar Tshechu | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang | 15-18 Oct. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 22-26 Oct. |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, Bumthang | 23-25 Oct. |
| Sumdrang Kangsol (Ura) | Sumdrang Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 2-6 Nov. |
| Crane Festival | Phobji Kha: Wangduephodrang | 12 Nov. |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 13-16 Nov. |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel | 13-16 Nov. |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang | 14-17 Nov. |
| Tang Namkha Rabney (Tang) | Tang Namkha Lhakhang, Bumthang | 15 - 16 Nov. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor Bumthang | 21 Nov. |
| Nalakhar Tshechu (Zhey) | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 21-23 Nov. |
| Chojam Rabney (Tang) | Chojamrab Lhakhang, Tang, Bumthang | 20-24 Nov. |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 15-17 Dec. |
| Lhuntse Tshechu | Lhuntse Dzong, Lhuntse | 15-17 Dec. |
| Shingkhar Metochodpa (Ura) | Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang/td> | 21 Dec. |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 21-25 Dec. |
Tentative festival dates for 2011 |
| Festival | Place | Dates |
| Punakha Drubchhen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 8-12 Feb. |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | 13-15 Feb. |
| Chorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtse | 18 Feb. & 4 Mar. |
| Gomkora | Gom Kora lhakhang, Trashigang | 13 - 15 Mar./11 - 13 April |
| Paro Tshechu | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | 15 - 19 Mar./14 - 18 April |
| Chukha Tshechu | Chukha | 17-19 Mar./16-18 April |
| Ura Tshechu | Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang | 13-17 May |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi, Bumthang | 8-10 July |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 10 July |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu | 1-5 Oct. |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdi Dzong, Wangduephodrang | 4 - 6 Oct. |
| Tamshingphala Choepa | Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 5 - 7 Oct. |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tashichhodzong, Thimphu | 6-8 Oct. |
| Tangbi Mani | Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang | 10-12 Oct. |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 10-14 Nov. |
| Prakhar Tshechu | Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, Bumthang | 11-13 Nov. |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | 1-4 Dec. |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel | 1-4 Dec. |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang | 2-5 Dec. |
| Nalakhar Tshechu (Zhey) | Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang | 10-12 Dec. |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | 2-4 Jan. 2012 |
| Lhuntse Tshechu | Lhuntse Dzong, Lhuntse | 2-4 Jan. 2012 |
| Shingkhar Metochodpa (Ura) | Shingkhar Lhakhang, Ura, Bumthang | 21 Dec. |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa | 21-25 Dec. |
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