Bhutan Festival Calendar

Festivals in the Land of the Thunder Dragon are rich and happy expressions of its ancient Buddhist culture. 

These festivals are held in all districts in honor of Guru Rimpoche, the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Tsechus are held on auspicious days and months in the Bhutanese calendar, and last up to four days in which a series of highly staylish masked dance rituals are performed. 

Festivals are also a big family and social occasions. People dress up in their finest clothes and most resplendent jewelry of coral and turquoise. They pack picnic lunches in their traditional bamboo baskets and stay all day at the festivals which are usually held in the dzongs (fortresses) or at monasteries. 

Behind the scenes, the monks prepare themselves for weeks ahead of the festival, involved in deep prayer and meditation prior to the festival. The monks perform special masked dances that are inspirations of enlightened beings in history; and the Bhutanese believe that watching these mystical dances is essential to gain enlightenment.

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Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2020

SL/NO	FESTIVALS	PLACES	DATES
1	Punakha Drubchen	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	2nd – 4th March
2	Punakha Tshechu	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	5th – 7th March
3	Tharpaling Thongdrol	Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang	9th March
4	Chhorten Kora	Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe	9th March & 24th March
5	Gomphukora	Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang	1st -3rd April
6	Talo Tshechu	Talo Gonpa, Punakha	1st -3rd April
7	Gasa Tshechu	Gasa Dzong, Gasa	1st -3rd April
8	Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang Dzong, Zhemgang	1st -3rd April
9	Paro Tshechu	Rinpung Dzong, Paro	4th -8th April – (Thongdral on last day)
10	Rhododendron Festival	Lamperi Botanical Garden, Dochula, Thimphu	17th – 19th April
11	Domkhar Tshechu	Domkhar, Chumni, Bumthang	2nd -4th May
12	Ura Yakchoe	Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang	4th – 8th May
13	Nimalung Tshechu	Nimalung Dratshang, Chumni, Bumthang	28th – 30th June
14	Kurjey Tshechu	Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	30th June
15	Haa Summer Festival	Haa	11th – 12th July
16	Mushroom Festival	Genekha, Thimphu.	15th & 16th Aug
17	Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race)	Bumthang to Thimphu	5th Sept
18	Thimphu Drubchen	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	22nd Sept
19	Wangdue Tshechu	Tencholing Army Ground, Wangduephodrang.	24th – 26th Sept
20	Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang	26th – 28th Sept
21	Thimphu Tshechu	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	26th – 28th Sept
22	Gangtey Tshechu	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang.	29th Sept– 1st Oct (Thongdrel on last day)
23	Thangbi Mewang	Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, Bumthang	30th Sept– 2nd Oct
24	Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Dangochong, Thimphu	14th & 15th Oct
25	Royal Highland Festival	Laya, Gasa	23th – 24th Oct
26	Chhukha Tshechu	Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha	24th – 26th Oct
27	Jakar Tshechu	Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, Bumthang.	23th -27th Oct (thongdrel on 26th)
28	Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	31st Oct -3rd Nov
29	Prakhar Duchhoed	Prakar Khakhang, Chumig, Bumthang	1st – 3rd Nov
30	Dechenphu Tshechu	Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu	26th October
31	Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, Wangduephodrang.	11th Nov
32	Bhutan Bird Festival	Tingtibi, Zhemgang	11th –13th Nov
33	Mongar Tshechu	Mongar Dzong, Mongar	22nd – 24th Nov
34	Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang.	22nd -24th Nov
35	Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	30th Nov
36	Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatshel Dzong, Pemagatshel.	21st – 24th Nov (Thongdrel on last day)
37	Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, Bumthang	30th Nov– 2nd Dec
38	Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Douchula, Thimphu	Douchula, Thimphu
39	Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa	23rd -25th Dec (Thongdrel on last day)
40	Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse	23rd – 25th Dec (Thongdrel on last day)
41	Nabji Lhakhang Drup	Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, Trongsa	29th –31st Dec (Mewang on 1st January 2021)