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Vibrant Festivals to Join in Bhutan Festival Tours

Day by day, you wake up and pinch yourself whether if you are still in a dream or not. Then you get a little bit tired when you realize that you are definitely in real life. So, what does it mean? To me, you are in a not good condition, the person inside you – your mind, I mean, is complicated so you need a little retreat in mind. Then you find out Tshechu, a Buddhist festival in honor of Buddhist Saint Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) that will come to you with color, music, dance, and drama to let you feel blessed. Since then, you can live your life without worrying about what will happen next. Now, do not waste your time anymore, go with us and see what exactly Tshechu/ Festivals in Bhutan are before making up your mind to book or customize your own Bhutan Festival Tours.

Thimphu Festival

Thimphu Festival, without doubt, is one of the biggest events in Bhutan lasting 3 days that is annually held in the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong and is considered one of the most beautiful tshechu in western Bhutan. Getting into the festival, you will witness thousands of people, many of whom travel from neighboring Dzongkhas to attend the tshechu. Once there, you can indulge your soul in the sacred dances and rituals performed by monks and laymen in elaborate, colorful costumes as well as feel a bit sacred in mind.

Paro Festival

Paro Festival is a massive event in springtime in Bhutan. Just like Thimphu, during the festival’s time, thousands of people come to the city to socialize and dance. When the event happens, it’s time for you to marvel at sacred dances and rituals displayed by monks and Layman dressing up in dazzling brocade costumes and re-enact famous legends in Buddhism Bhutan. Once there, you will fall in love with the vibrant ambiance of the festival as there will be a performance of dancers wearing colorful costumes and different masks. Moreover, at the end of the Paro festival, aa four-story thangkha (Buddhist religious painting) will be unveiled in the celebration. Once again, after experiencing all these rituals, be ready to feel something sacred and a little bit peaceful in your mind.

Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival

This Bhutan Festival is celebrated in Bumthang, the spiritual heartland of Bhutan; hence it is far to easy to understand why Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival is one of the most important events in such a country. If you don’t want to miss any part of the 4-day festival, go to bed early will be a crime because this event itself will last from day to late at night. In the festival, you might also see the masked dance; however, it is a bit different from elsewhere. I would be brutally honest that my favorite part among others during my time enjoying the festival is naked dance known as Ter Cham and Mewang or the fire blessing as the dancers will perform it around the camping fire at midnight. I heard that this fire dance is held to bless infertile women so that they may bear children after that. Overall, if you want something weird yet unforgettable happening on your Bhutan Festival Tours like mine, the Jamay Lhakhang Drup Festival will be your thing.

Black-necked Crane Festival

I also had an opportunity to attend this fascinating festival and really enjoyed it mostly because I am a nature lover and more than that the tshechu itself had its own meaningful message. Black-necked Crane Festival is not only celebrated to rejoice the arrival of the black-necked crane – the endangered bird that has become an inseparable part in their daily lives during the winter but to raise the awareness and understanding on the importance of conserving the endangered bird. Talk about the festival, you will enjoy some cultural programs like folk songs (without understanding their meaning), black-necked crane dances as the dancers will put on the black-necked crane costumes while performing the dance, and masked performed by the locals. Furthermore, if you love watching drama, it will be a great opportunity to watch the environmental conservation-themed dramas displayed by school children.

Wangduephodrang Festival

Wangduephodrang Festival is a fairly new one among other Bhutan Festivals; however, it has been one of the largest tshechus in Bhutan so far. I love this festival because unlike other festivals celebrated for religious purposes only, it is organized to bring people together and promote peace and harmony between people. So, if you have a chance to experience this festival, it will be great for you to drink, dance, and socialize. Raksha Mangcham or ‘Ox Dance’ is the most important part of the festival. On the other hand, just like other festivals in Bhutan, the Wangduephodrang Tshechu finishes with the unfurling of the Guru Tshengye Thongdrol.

Haa Summer Festival

Haa Summer Festival is one of the most spectacular festivals in Bhutan not only because of the spiritual values it has, but also its most impressive settings with superb lakes and lush valleys that are a backdrop to this wonderful festival. If you have an opportunity to attend this event, you will notice that unlike other tshechus, this one is celebrated by the nomadic herders living in Haa Valley to express the traditional-living style of the locals. It can be a perfect experience for those who want to get an insight into the old-world culture and history. More than that, getting into the festival, you have to be ready to join with the locals as you will drink, sing, and dance with them.

Punakha Festival and Drubchen

In short, the Punakha Drubchen is a fascinating tshechu as it is celebrated for the victory of Bhutan when the armies successfully defeated the Tibetan forces of invading in the 17th century. During the time of the festival, you will notice that the local military and villagers will re-enact the battles yet in glorious costumes of bright colors. If you think that is all, not so fast. The tshechu is held within the most beautiful Dzong in Bhutan – Punakha Dzong; hence, why don’t you take this chance to experience both the traditional & cultural values as well as the breathtaking vistas outside the Dzong.

Bhutan Festival Calendar

To enjoy Bhutan Festival Tours, first of all, you have to know about when will festivals in Bhutan take place. Therefore, all festivals in Bhutan including names, destinations, start and end dates will be listed below:

Festivals	Destinations	Start	End
Punakha Drubchen	Punakha	February 12, 2019	February 14, 2019
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha	February 15, 2019	February 17, 2019
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Bumthang	February 19, 2019
Gasa Tshechu	Gasa	March 14, 2019	March 16, 2019
Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang	March 14, 2019	March 14. 2019
Gomphukora	Trashigang	March 14, 2019	March 16, 2019
Talo Tshechu	Punakha	March 14, 2019	March 16, 2019
Paro Tshechu	Paro	March 17, 2019	March 21, 2019
Chorten Kora	Trashi Yangtse	March 21, 2019	April 05, 2019
Domkhar Tshechu	Bumthang	April 14, 209	April 16, 2019
Ura Yakchoe	Bumthang	April 16, 2019	April 20. 2019
Rhododendron Festival	Thimphu	April 19, 2019	April 21, 2019
Nimalung Tshechu	Bumthang	July 10, 2019	July 11, 2019
Kurjey Tshechu	Bumthang	July 11, 2019
Haa Summer Festival	Haa Valley	July 13, 2019	July 14, 2019
Mushroom Festival	Thimphu	August 15, 2019	August 16, 2019
Masutaki Mushroom Festival	Bumthang	August 23. 2019	August 24, 2019
Tour of the Dragon	Bumthang	Sep 07, 2019
Thimphu Drubchen	Thimphu	October 04, 2019
Wangdue Tshechu	Wangdue Phodrang	October 05, 2019	October 07, 2019
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Bumthang	October 07, 2019	October 09, 2019
Thimphu Tshechu	Thimphu	October 08, 2019	October 10, 2019
Gangtey Tshechu	Wangdue Phodrang	October 10, 2019	October 13, 2019
Thangbi Mani	Bumthang	October 10, 2019	October 13, 2019
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Thimphu	October 14, 2019	October 15, 2019
Jakar Tshechu	Bumthang	November 05, 2019	November 09, 2019
Chhukha Tshechu	Chukha	November 06, 2019	November 08, 2019
Dechenphu Tshechu Dechenphu	Thimphu	November 08, 2019
Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatshel	November 11, 2019	November 13, 2019
Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey	November 11, 2019
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Bumthang	November 13, 2019	November 16, 2019
Prakhar Duchhoed	Bumthang	November 14, 2019	November 16, 2019
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar	December 04, 2019	December 06, 2019
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang	December 05, 2019	December 07, 2019
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Bumthang	December 12, 2019
Nalakhar Tshechu	Bumthang	December 12, 2019
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Thimphu	December 12, 2019