Attending a Tshechu offers visitors a unique immersion into Bhutanese culture with its lively atmosphere and traditions, creating unforgettable memories; learning about the dances and showing respect enhances the experience. Bhutanese festivals, also known as Tshechus, are vibrant religious and social events featuring colorful masked dances and rituals, which are deeply meaningful to locals for spiritual merit and community gathering.
Beginning on the tenth day of the eighth Tibetan lunar month, the capital hosts the Thimphu Festival, a significant three-day festival that attracts thousands of people to see revered dances like the Dance of the Black Hats, Dance of the Terrifying Deities and many others. Playfully mystifying demonic spirits showcase local activities through skits. In addition to being a lively display of people dressed in their best traditional garb, the festival provides wonderful environment in a happy setting.
Held in March or April, the increasingly popular five-day Paro Festival features breathtaking mask dances and costumes, culminating in the dawn unveiling of the enormous Thongdroel, a sacred silk scroll that is said to bring enlightenment upon sight. Even the King attends this last-day ritual, which is a significant religious blessing. In addition, the event takes place in the spring, when rhododendrons are in bloom and the surroundings are perfect for a peaceful stroll to enhance reflection.
Discover the lively Jambay Lhakhang Festival, which takes place in a medieval monastery from the 7th century! You can go through a gate of roaring flames to ward off evil spirits during the exhilarating Mewang fire ceremony. Join the locals as the sun sets for the captivating Tercham, the festival's centerpiece, which features masked dancers performing a special rite to atone for sins and guarantee a plentiful harvest. This cultural experience will never be forgotten!
The Royal Highlander Festival, which was started on October 16th, 2016, commemorates important events such as historical anniversaries and the birth of HRH the Gyalsey. This lively festival embodies Gasa Dzongkhag's "Good to Great Gasa" goal and gives visitors a genuine look into the Highlanders' modest way of life while revealing the area's natural beauty, rich history, and ancient customs.
| Festival | Location | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King of Bhutan | Whole Bhutan | Feb 21-23 |
| Lhamoi Dromche | Trongsa | Mar 6-8 |
| Punakha Drupchen | Punakha | Mar 6-8 |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | Mar 9-11 |
| Bhutan International Marathon | Annual Event, Gasa-Punakha | Mar 4 |
| Tangsibi Mani | Ura, Bumthang | Mar 15-17 |
| Chorten Kora | Chorten Kora, Trashi Yangtse | Mar 14 & 29 |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Chumi, Bumthang | Mar 14 |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong | April 5-7 |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | April 5-7 |
| Talo Tshechu | Talo Village, Punakha | April 5-7 |
| Gomkora Tshechu | Gomkora, Trashi Yangtse | April 5-7 |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro Dzong | April 8-12 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Lampelri Botanical Garden, Dochula | April 22-24 |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Chumi, Bumthang | May 7-9 |
| Ura Yakchoe | Ura, Bumthang | May 9-13 |
| Dolay Drupchen | Taktsang Pelphu, Paro | May 20-30 |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Chumi, Bumthang | Jul 3-5 |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Choekor, Bumthang | Jul 5 |
| Masutake Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Thimphu | Aug 20-21 |
| Takila Cham | Takila Lhakhang, Lhuentse | Aug 29-31 |
| Tour of the Dragon - Bicycle Race | Bumthang-Thimphu | Sep 6 |
| Thimphu Dromchoe | Tashichoedzong, Thimphu | Sep 28 |
| Paro Dromchoe | Rinpung Dzong, Paro | Sep 30 |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | Sep 30-Oct 2 |
| Haa Tshechu | Lhakhang Karpo, Haa | Sep 22-24 |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Tendrel Thang, Tashichoedzong | Oct 2-4 |
| Tamshing Phala Choepa | Tamshing, Bumthang | Oct 2-4 |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley | Oct 5-7 |
| Thangbi Mewang | Choekor, Bumthang | Oct 7-8 |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Jangkothang, Jhomolhari Base | Oct 14-15 |
| Chukha Tshechu | Chukha | Oct 29-31 |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Thimphu | Oct 31 |
| Jakar Tshechu | Choekor, Bumthang | Oct 29-Nov 1 |
| Jambhay Lhakhang Drup | Choekor, Bumthang | Nov 5-8 |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Chumi, Bumthang | Nov 6-8 |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Phobjikha Valley | Nov 11 |
| Yeshey Goenpi Drupchen | Trongsa | Nov 18-20 |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | Nov 28-30 |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | Nov 29-Dec 1 |
| Jambhay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Bumthang | Dec 4 |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | Dec 4-6 |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Dochula | Dec 13 |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa | Dec 27-31 (Dec 27 is Chamjur) |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse | Dec 27-31 |
You may choose the festival of your interest from the above list and contact us. We will provide more detailed information on your choice of festivals.
| Festival | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King of Bhutan | Whole Bhutan | Feb 21-23 |
| Punakha Drupchen | Punakha | Feb 22-25 |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | Feb 26-28 |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Chumi, Bumthang | Mar 3 |
| Tangsibi Mani | Ura, Bumthang | Mar 4-6 |
| Bhutan International Marathon | Annual Event Organised | Mar 5 |
| Gomphukora | Trashigang | Mar 26-28 |
| Talo Tshechu | Talo, Punakha | Mar 26-28 |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa | Mar 26-28 |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | Mar 26-28 |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro | Mar 28-April 1 |
| Chhorten Kora | Trashiyangtse | Mar 28 |
| Haa Spring Festival | Haa Valley | April 7-9 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Lampelri Botanical Garden, Dochula | April 17-19 |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Chumi, Bumthang | April 18-20 |
| Ura Yakchoe | Ura, Bumthang | April 20-24 |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Chumi, Bumthang | June 14-16 |
| Kurjey Tshechu | Choekor, Bumthang | June 16 |
| Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Thimphu | Aug 15-16 |
| Masutake Mushroom Festival | Ura, Bumthang | Aug 23-24 |
| Tour of the Dragon-Bicycle Race | Bumthang-Thimphu | Sept 5 |
| Thimphu Drupchen | Thimphu | Sept 9 |
| Paro Dromche | Paro | Sept 11 |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangduephodrang | Sept 11-13 |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu | Sept 13-15 |
| Tamshing Phala Choepa | Tamshing, Bumthang | Sept 13-15 |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley | Sept 16-18 |
| Thangbi Mani | Choekor, Bumthang | Sept 17-19 |
| Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Dangochang (Jhomolhari Base Camp) | Oct 14-15 |
| Royal Highland Festival | - | Oct 23-24 |
| Chukha Tshechu | Chukha | Nov 11-13 |
| Jakar Tshechu | Choekor, Bumthang | Nov 8-12 |
| Jambhay Lhakhang Drup | Choekor, Bumthang | Nov 15-18 |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Chumi, Bumthang | Nov 16-18 |
| Dechenphu Tshechu | Thimphu | Nov 11 |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Phobjikha Valley | Nov 11 |
| Goenpi Dromche | Trongsa | Nov 6-8 |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | Nov 9-11 |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | Nov 9-11 |
| Jambhay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Bumthang | Nov 15 |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pema Gatshel | Nov 9-11 |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | Nov 15-17 |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Dochula | Dec 13 |
| Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa | Dec 9-12 (Dec 8 Chamjur) |
| Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuentse | Dec 8-10 |
You may choose the festival of your interest from the above list and contact us. We will provide more detailed information on your choice of festivals.