Bhutan is one of the most spectacular wilderness on earth, the country is actually most famous for its exuberant religious festivals known as Tshechus.
Festivals in Bhutan are known for their richness, vibrancy and happiness. The ancient expressions of Buddhist culture and legendary victories are re-enacted and celebrated around the country with such pomp and show that it attracts visitors and tourists from around the globe.
Every temple and Dzong in the country holds one Tshechu every calendar year. Tshechu actually means ‘10th day’ and, although each temple hosts their Tshechu on different months, every festival is held on the 10th of their chosen month as this corresponds to the birthday of Guru Rimpoche in the 8th century.
The mystical dances, engaging performances, brave fire events, mysterious naked dances, enlightening re-creations and such comprise the festive celebrations. Sometimes there are rare displays of silk paintings and/or some ancient scrolls. The festivals in Bhutan never let you off the high.
Tshechu’s are exceedingly important events in the Bhutanese calendar and entire villages and cities come together to sing, dance, drink and receive blessings. It is believed that every single Bhutanese person must join in at least one masked dance to wash away their sins. The large Tshechus like Paro and Thimphu are spectacular sites to witness as thousands turn up for the event!
Below is the list of most incredible Tshechus in Bhutan.
1. Paro Tschechu
The ParoTshechu is a massive festival and by far the biggest spring time event in Bhutan. On the first day, all mask dances are held inside the courtyard of the Dzong. In the subsequent days, the courtyard outside the dzong hosts the festival. Monks and Layman dress up in dazzling brocade costumes and re-enact famous legends in Buddhism Bhutan. Visitors love the vibrant feel of the festival, not to mention the incredibly intricate face masks that many people wear. At the end of the festival a four storey high thangkha (Buddhist religious scroll) is unrolled in celebration. The scroll is said to be over 350 years old.It has narratives from history, celebrating the high deeds of Guru Rimpoche. The reason why Paro festivals in Bhutan are known to be the most visited ones around the country, is its hospitality and connectivity.
2. Thimphu Tschechu
The ThimphuTshechu is without doubt the mightiest and biggest, the most popular festival of Bhutan. The festival is held in Bhutan’s capital which draws thousands of people, all decked up in fine colorful attires, flock to the city to be a part of the festivities creating an atmosphere that is unforgettable. There are colors, there are dance performances, there are activities, and there are plays in this Bhutan festival.The festival is a public holiday for Bhutanese people and huge dancing stages are erected in the courtyard of the Tashichhodzong. The three day Tshechu is actually followed by many days and nights of prayers. The colorful mask dances, where people and monks dance their heart out to celebrate life and cheeriness of Bhutan, steal the show.
3. Jambay Lhakhang Drup
The JambayLhakhangDrup festival is simply spectacular as it plays host to what is known as the ‘fire ceremony’. Naked dancing, fire dancing, mask dancing – JambayLhakhangDrup has it all. Traditional dances are performed to celebrate the foundation of JambayLhakhang Monastery and to honor Guru Rimpoche. Mewang – the fire ceremony attracts thousands of tourists and features locals dancing under a flaming structure (gates) made of dry grass. The event highlight is ‘Dance of Treasure’ – Tercham, where masked dancers and monks perform naked. This part of the festivities take place in the middle of the night. If you want something truly weird and unforgettable, then the JambayLhakhangDrup festival may just be for you.
4. Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu
The annual WangduephodrangTshechu is one of the largest Tshechus introduced after the completion of new Dzong construction, draws people from all over Thimphu and Punakha. The event is a welcome respite for locals who come together to drink, dance and socialise. The festival is now known for its RakshaMangcham or ‘Dance of the Ox’. The ‘Dance of Ox’ is a major attraction, where people dance to ensure a peaceful afterlife. The festival is concluded with the unfurling of a gigantic scroll of various paintings, known as Guru TshengyeThongdrol.
5. Punakha Tshechu Drubchen
Out of all the festivals in Bhutan, PunakhaDrubchen is most unique. It is about recreation of some consequential scenes and moments from the Tibetan Army battle of 17th Century. The local military officials recreate and re-enact the scenes dressed in full battle gear complete with swords. It is to celebrate the victory and to pay tribute to the villagers who came forward to drive out the Tibetan army out of their country. It shows gratitude to these people because of whom, Tibet was unable to take over Bhutan. The festival is held directly after Drubchen and offers a dazzling array of masked dances for visitors to enjoy. The Tshechu is also held within one of the most beautiful Dzongs in the country – PunakhaDzong.
6. Haa Summer Festival
One of the most spectacular newly found festivals in Bhutan is Haa Summer Festival.Gorgeous lakes and lush valleys are the backdrop to this fantastic festival. Locals and tourists come together to celebrate the culture, heritage, religion and sports of Bhutan. The festival is mainly dedicated to the nomads of Haa Valley. Some of the most consequential moments and cultures of these nomads are showcased during this festival in the form of vibrant pictures and lively paintings. The best part is that even tourists can participate in some of the fun activities like yak riding, folk dance, and food tasting.
7. Black-Necked Crane Festival
This is the festival for nature lovers! The Black-necked Crane festival is an annual event held to celebrate the arrival of the endangered black-necked cranes to the Phobjikha Valley. The birds arrive in the valley each winter from their northern summer grounds and the festival honours their arrival with a series of crane-themed dances and songs. Throughout the festival locals are made more aware of the cranes struggle for survival and local conservation spirit is renewed.
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Below is the list of the Festival held in various parts of Bhutan with their dates:
| Name | Town | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PunakhaDrubchen | Punakha | Feb 12, 2019 | Feb 14, 2019 |
| PunakhaTshechu | Punakha | Feb 15, 2019 | Feb 17, 2019 |
| TharpalingThongdrol | Bumthang | Feb 19, 2019 | |
| GasaTshechu | Gasa | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| ZhemgangTshechu | Zhemgang | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 17, 2019 |
| Gomphukora | Trashigang | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| TaloTshechu | Punakha | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| ParoTshechu | Paro | Mar 17, 2019 | Mar 21, 2019 |
| ChhortenKora | TrashiYangtse | Mar 21, 2019 | Apr 05, 2019 |
| DomkharTshechu | Bumthang | Apr 14, 2019 | Apr 16, 2019 |
| UraYakchoe | Bumthang | Apr 16, 2019 | Apr 20, 2019 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Thimphu | Apr 19, 2019 | Apr 21, 2019 |
| NimalungTshechu | Bumthang | Jul 10, 2019 | Jul 11, 2019 |
| KurjeyTshechu | Bumthang | Jul 11, 2019 | |
| Haa Summer Festival | Haa Valley | Jul 13, 2019 | Jul 14, 2019 |
| Mushroom Festival | Thimphu | Aug 15, 2019 | Aug 16, 2019 |
| Masutaki Mushroom Festival | Bumthang | Aug 23, 2019 | Aug 24, 2019 |
| Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race) | Bumthang | Sep 07, 2019 | |
| ThimphuDrubchen | Thimphu | Oct 03, 2019 | |
| WangdueTshechu | WangduePhodrang | Oct 05, 2019 | Oct 07, 2019 |
| TamshingPhalaChhoepa | Bumthang | Oct 07, 2019 | Oct 09, 2019 |
| ThimphuTshechu | Thimphu | Oct 07, 2019 | Oct 09, 2019 |
| GangteyTshechu | WangduePhodrang | Oct 10, 2019 | Oct 13, 2019 |
| Thangbi Mani | Bumthang | Oct 10, 2019 | Oct 13, 2019 |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Thimphu | Oct 14, 2019 | Oct 15, 2019 |
| JakarTshechu | Bumthang | Nov 05, 2019 | Nov 09, 2019 |
| ChhukhaTshechu | Chukha | Nov 06, 2019 | Nov 08, 2019 |
| DechenphuTshechuDechenphu | Thimphu | Nov 08, 2019 | |
| PemagatshelTshechu | Pemagatshel | Nov 11, 2019 | Nov 13, 2019 |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey | Nov 11, 2019 | |
| JambayLhakhangDrup | Bumthang | Nov 13, 2019 | Nov 16, 2019 |
| PrakharDuchhoed | Bumthang | Nov 14, 2019 | Nov 16, 2019 |
| MongarTshechu | Mongar | Dec 04, 2019 | Dec 06, 2019 |
| TrashigangTshechu | Trashigang | Dec 05, 2019 | Dec 07, 2019 |
| JambayLhakhangSingye Cham | Bumthang | Dec 12, 2019 | |
| NalakharTshechu | Bumthang | Dec 12, 2019 | |
| DrukWangyelTshechu | Thimphu | Dec 13, 2019 |