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 2012, 2013 & 2014 - Updated (Provided by Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators)
| SN |
FESTIVAL |
PLACE |
2013 |
2014 |
| 1 |
TAKIN FESTIVAL |
Damji, GASA |
21st - 23rd February |
|
| 2 |
NOMAD FESTIVAL |
Nagsephel, BUMTHANG |
23rd - 25th February |
|
| 3 |
PUNAKHA DRUBCHEN |
Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA |
15th - 19th February |
6th - 10th March |
| 4 |
PUNAKHA TSHECHU |
Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA |
20th - 22nd February |
11th - 13th March |
| 5 |
THARPALING THONGDROL |
Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG |
25th February |
|
| 6 |
BULLI MANI (CHUMMI) |
Buli Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 7 |
CHHORTEN KORA |
Chorten Kora, TRASHIYANGTSHE |
25th February & 11th March |
16th March & 30th March |
| 8 |
GADEN CHODPA (URA) |
Gaden Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 9 |
GOMPHUKORA |
Gom Kora Lhakhang,TRASHIGANG |
|
7th - 9th April |
| 10 |
TALO TSHECHU |
Talo Gonpa,PUNAKHA |
20th - 22nd March |
|
| 11 |
ZHEMGANG TSHECHU |
Zhemgang Dzong, ZHEMGANG |
20th - 23rd March |
|
| 12 |
PARO TSHECHU |
Rinpung Dzong, PARO |
23rd - 27th March |
11th - 15th April |
| 13 |
CHHUKHA TSHECHU |
Chhukha Dzong, CHHUKHA |
25th - 27th March |
13th - 15th April |
| 14 |
DOMKHAR TSHECHU |
Domkhar, Chummi, BUMTHANG |
20th - 22nd April |
|
| 15 |
RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL |
Lamperi Botanical Garde, Dochula, THIMPHU |
11th - 13th May |
|
| 16 |
URA YAKCHOE |
Ura Lhakhang, BUMTHANG |
21st - 25th April |
10th - 14th May |
| 17 |
PADSEL-LING KUCHOD |
Padsel-ling Gonpa, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 18 |
TAKIN FESTIVAL |
Tsharijathang, Laya (JDNP) GASA |
|
|
| 19 |
NIMALUNG TSHECHU |
Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi, BUMTHANG |
16th - 18th June |
5th - 7th June |
| 20 |
KURJEY TSHECHU |
Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
18th June |
7th June |
| 21 |
HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL |
Town Festival Ground, HAA |
6th - 8th July |
|
| 22 |
MASUTAKI MUSHROOM FESTIVAL |
Ura, BUMTHANG |
17th - 19th August |
|
| 23 |
TOUR OF THE DRAGON (BICYCLE RACE) |
Bumthang to Thimphu |
7th September |
6th September |
| 24 |
THIMPHU DRUBCHEN |
Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU |
9th - 13th September |
28th Sept. - 2nd October |
| 25 |
WANGDUE TSHECHU |
Tencholing Army Ground, WANGDUEPHODRANG |
12th - 14th September |
1st - 3rd October |
| 26 |
GANGTEY TSHECHU |
Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG |
13th - 15th September |
|
| 27 |
TAMSHING PHALA CHHOEPA |
Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
13th - 15th September |
2nd - 4th October |
| 28 |
THIMPHU TSHECHU |
Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU |
14th - 16th September |
3rd - 5th October |
| 29 |
GASA TSHECHU |
Gasa Dzong, GASA |
14th - 16th September |
3rd - 5th October |
| 30 |
THANGBI MANI |
Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, BUMTHANG |
18th - 20th September |
7th - 9th October |
| 31 |
SHINGKHAR RABNEY |
URA, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 32 |
JAKAR TSHECHU |
Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
12th - 15th October |
|
| 33 |
JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP |
Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
18th - 22nd October |
6th - 10th November |
| 34 |
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED |
Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG |
19th - 21st October |
7th - 9th November |
| 35 |
BLACK NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL |
Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG |
11th November |
11th November |
| 36 |
SUMDRANG KANGSOL |
Sumdrang Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 37 |
CRANE FESTIVAL |
Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG |
|
|
| 38 |
MONGAR TSHECHU |
Mongar Dzong, MONGAR |
9th - 12th November |
28th Nov. - 1st December |
| 39 |
TRASHIGANG TSHECHU |
Trashigang Dzong, TRASHIGANG |
10th - 13th November |
29th Nov. - 2nd December |
| 40 |
TANG NAMKHA RABNEY |
Tang Namkha, Lhakhang, TANG, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 41 |
JAMBAY LAKHANG SINGYE CHAM |
Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
17th November |
|
| 42 |
CHOJAM RABNEY |
Chojamrab Lhakhang, TANG, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 43 |
NALAKHAR TSHECHU |
Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG |
17th - 19th November |
6th - 8th December |
| 44 |
PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU |
Pemagatshel Dzong, PEMAGATSHEL |
9th - 12th November |
|
| 45 |
DRUK WANGYEL TSHECHU |
Dochula, Thimphu |
13th December |
13th December |
| 46 |
TRONGSA TSHECHU |
Trongsa Dzong, TRONGSA |
9th - 11th January 2014 |
30th Dec. - 1st January 2015 |
| 47 |
LHUENTSE TSHECHU |
Lhuentse Dzong, LHUENTSE |
9th - 11th January 2014 |
30th Dec. - 1st January 2015 |
| 48 |
SHINGKHAR METOCHODPA |
Shingkhar Lhakhang,Ura, BUMTHANG |
|
|
| 49 |
NABJI LHAKHANG DRUP |
Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, TRONGSA |
15th - 19th January 2014 |
|
 |
