Religious festivals are important events throughout the Bhutan Buddhist world - commemorating the deeds of Buddha, or those of the great masters of the past associated with one Buddhist tradition or another.
In Bhutan, 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 the deeds of Padmasambhava. Locally referred to as "Guru Rimpoche" or simply as "Guru", this eighth century master introduced theNyingma school of Buddhism into Tibet and Bhutan. Each 10th day of the lunar calendar is said to commemorate a special event in the life of Padmasambhava; and some of these are dramatized in the context of a religious festival. Most festival lasts from three to five days - one ofwhich, 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 scroll known as a Tongdrol is exhibited for afew 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.
Of these festivals the Paro Tsechu, in the spring, and the Wangue and Thimpu Tsechus, in the fall, are the most impressive. These festivals are very popular with western tourists. The festivals in Bumthang and Eastern Bhutan attract fewer tourists and those who want to get a more authentic flavor of Bhutan's cultural and religious extravaganza will be well rewarded.
Festivals in general attract many tourists and hotels and flights are sold out months in advance to organized tourist groups. Anyone who wishes to visit Bhutan during these festivals should plan and make their tour arrangements well in advance.
| FESTIVAL | PLACE | 2022 | 2023 |
| DECHENPHUG LHAKHANG,THIMPHU | 8th November | ||
| PUNAKHA DRUBCHEN | Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA | 22nd-24th Feb | 2nd-4th March |
| PUNAKHA TSHECHU | Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA | 25th-27th Feb | 5th-7th March |
| THARPALING THONGDROL | Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG | 9th March | |
| CHHORTEN KORA | Chorten Kora, TRASHIYANGTSHE | 2nd &17th March | 8 th April & 22nd April |
| GOMPHU KORA | Gom Kora Lhakhang, TRASHIGANG | 24th-26th March | 1st-3rd April |
| TALO TSHECHU | Talo Gonpa, PUNAKHA | 1st-3rd April | |
| GASA TSECHU | Gasa Dzong, GASA | 1st-3rd April | |
| ZHEMGANG TSHECHU | Zhemgang Dzong, ZHEMGANG | 1st-3rd April | |
| PARO TSHECHU | Rinpung Dzong, PARO | 27th-31st March | 4th-8th April |
| RHODODENDRON FESTIVAL | Lamperi Botanical Garden, Dochula, THIMPHU | | 19th-21st April |
| DOMKHAR TSHECHU | Domkhar, Chummi, BUMTHANG | 3rd-5th March | |
| URA YAKCHOE | Ura Lhakhang, BUMTHANG | 27th-29th April | 4th-8th May |
| NIMALUNG TSHECHU | Nimalung Dratschang, Chummi, BUMTHANG | 21st-23rd June | 30th June-1st July |
| KURJEY TSHECHU | Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG | 23rd June | 30th June |
| HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL | Town Festival Ground, HAA | 13th-14th July | |
| MASUTAKI MUSHROOM FESTIVAL | Ura, BUMTHANG | 23rd-24th Aug | |
| TOUR OF THE DRAGON (BICYCLE RACE) | Bumthang to Thimphu | 7th september | |
| THIMPHU DRUBCHEN | Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU | 22nd Sept | |
| WANGDUE TSHECHU | Tencholing Army Ground, WANGDUEPHODRANG | 17th-19th September | 24th-26th Sept |
| GANGTEY TSHECHU | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG | | 28th Sept-1st Oct |
| TAMSHING PHALA CHHOEPA | Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG | 19th-21st Sept | 26th-28th Sept |
| THIMPHU TSHECHU | Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU | 19th-21st Sept | 26th-28th Sept |
| THANGBI MANI | Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, BUMTHANG | 23rd-25th Sept | 29th Sept-2nd Oct |
| PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU | Pemagatshel Dzong, PEMAGATSHEL | 16th-18th November | 21st-24th November |
| CHHUKHA TSHECHU | Chhukha Dzong, CHHUKHA | 17th-19th Oct | 24-26th Oct |
| JAKAR TSHECHU | Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, BUMTHANG | 23rd-27th Oct | |
| JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP | Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG | 24th-27th Oct | 31stOct-3rd November |
| PRAKHAR DUCHHOED | Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG | 25th-27th Oct | 1st-3rd November |
| BLACK NECKED CRANE FESTIVAL | Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG | November 11th | November 11th |
| MONGAR TSHECHU | Mongar Dzong, MONGAR | 16th-18th Nov | 21st-24th Nov |
| TRASHIGANG TSHECHU | Trashigang Dzong, TRASHIGANG | 17th-19th Nov | 22nd-25th Nov |
| Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Shemgang | 29th-31st Dec | |
| NALAKHAR TSHECHU | BUMTHANG | 23rd-25th Nov | 30th Nov-2nd Dec |
| DRUK WANGYEL TSHECHU | Dochula, THIMPHU | December 13th | December 13th |
| TRONGSA TSHECHU | Trongsa Dzong, TRONGSA | 15th-17th Dec | 10th-13th Dec |
| LHUENTSE TSHECHU | Lhuentse Dzong, LHUENTSE | 15th-17th Dec | 21st-24th Dec |