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    Festivals in Bhutan

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    Festivals in Bhutan

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    Festivals in Bhutan

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    Festivals in Bhutan

Trongsa Festival

All the festivals in Bhutan share the same theme, but each festival has its own special flavor. Different locals and venues provide a kaleidoscope of sight and sound. The Trongsa festival usually takes place in December or January, depending on the Bhutanese calendar.

This festival is less congested than the more popular ones, providing visitors with a better opportunity to experience and photograph the events on a more intimate level.

Thimphu Festival

This is another one of the great festivals of Bhutan. Like the Paro festival, its timing depends upon the Bhutanese lunar calendar, but usually occurs in September or October.

Because it is held in the populated capital of Bhutan, the Thimphu festival can be congested. This can make picture-taking challenging. One has to come early to secure a place to sit and watch the Festival.

The Thimphu festival takes place inside the capital-building courtyard. The capital building also houses the offices for the King, Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as summer residences for the monks when they move to the capital from their Punakha winter residence.

Jampa Lhakhang Drup (Festival)

Although the origin and purpose of the festival cannot be exactly determined, the Jampa Lhakhang Drup is regarded as one of the most ancient and sacred of all festivals in the region. The tradition of people from this area is to congregate in a spirit of piety and festivity on the 15th day of the ninth month of the Bhutanese calendar.

The well-known historian on Bhutan, the late Dr. Michael Aris, pointed out that this ancient festival retained some remnants of the old Agricultural New Year, which falls at the winter solstice and which has almost disappeared from this part of the country.

Paro Festival

This festival usually takes place in March or April each year, depending upon the Bhutanese lunar calendar. It is considered one of the most colorful and wonderful of Bhutan�s many festivals and is very popular with visitors.

Festival participants don ornamental dress and elaborate costumes that are worn just once a year. Other highlights of the Paro Festival include the Thongdrel on the last day.

Thongdrel is a huge religious scroll, usually with the image of Bhutanese protector deity, Guru Rimpoche, appliqu�d in bright silk. The scroll is lowered on the last day of the Festival in the early hours of the morning, and is rolled back up before direct sunlight touches it.

"THONGDREL MEANS LIBERATION UPON SIGHT, SEEING ONE IS ENOUGH TO BRING THE FAITHFUL INTO AN ENLIGHTENED STATE."

Punakha Tshechu (Festival)

Between 1616 AD and 1651 AD, Zhabdrung had to wage around five major against the major wars against the invading forces of Desi Tsangpa Phuntsho Namgyel and his successors. The Bhutanese militia under the able guidance of Zhabdrung himself was able to defeat the invaders. During those wars, Lam Zhabdrung also sought the support of the guardian Deities, particularly Palden Lhamo and Pal Yeshey Goenbo.

Punakha Drubchen therefore celebrates two important events:

a) Worship of the guardian deities and presentation of the deities to the public through mask dances performed by the monks. b) Enactment of ancient military scenes by Pazaps.

Totally different than other Festivals in the Kingdom, the Domchey depicts the events of the 17thn century -- specifically, how the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel came to Bhutan from Tibet. When he came to Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel brought valuable treasure from Tibet with him.

The Tibetan Army came to Punakha Dzong to retrieve the treasure and fought a battle with the Bhutanese defenders. In this festival, four different villages participate, each representing a different army that fought in this historic battle.

Festival Dates 2022

FESTIVAL
PLACE
DATE
Lhamoi Dromche
Trongsa
March 1-2
Punakha Drupchen
Punakha
March 4
Punakha Tshechu
Punakha
March 5-7
Tharpaling Thongdrol
Chumi, Bumthang
March 9
Tangsibi Mani
Ura, Bumthang
March 9-11
Bhutan International Marathon
Annual Event Organized
March 5
Gomphukora
Trashigang
April 1-3
Talo Tshechu
Talo, Punakha
April 1-3
Gasa Tshechu
Gasa
April 1-3
Zhemgang Tshechu
Zhemgang
April 1-3
Paro Tshechu
Paro
April 4-8
Chhorten Kora
Trashiyangtse
April 8 & 22
Rhododendron Festival
Lampelri Botanical Garden, Dochula
April 21-23
Domkhar Tshechu
Trashiyangtse
May 3-5
Ura Yakchoe
Ura, Bumthang
May 4-8
Nimalung Tshechu
Chumi, Bumthang
May 3-5
Kurjey Tshechu
Bumthang
June 30
Haa Summer Festival
Haa
July 14-15
Mushroom Festival
Genekha, Thimphu
August 15-16
Matsutaki Mushroom Festival
Ura, Bumthang
August 23-24
Tour of the Dragin - Bicycle Race
Bumthang to Thimphu
September 5
Thimphu Drubchen
Thimphu
September 22
Wangdue Tshechu
Wangduephodrang
Sept 24-26
Thimphu Tshechu
Thimphu
Sept 26-28
Tamshing Phala Choepa
Tamshing, Bumthang
Sept 26-28
Gangtey Tsherchu
Gangtey, Phobjikha Valley
Sept 28 - Oct 1
Thangbi Mani
Choekor, Bumthang
Sept 29 - Oct 2
Chukha Tshechu
Chukha
Oct 24-26
Jakar Tshechu
Bumthang
Oct 23 -26
Jambay Lhakhang Drup
Bumthang
Oct 31 - Nov 3
Dechenphug Tshechu
Thimphu
Oct 26
Goenpi Domche
Trongsa
Nov 14-16
Black Necked Crane Festival
Phobjikha Valley
Nov 11
Mongar Tshechu
Mongar
Nov 21-24
Trashigang Tshechu
Trashgang
Nov 22-25
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham
Bumthang
Nov 30
Pemagatshel Tshechu
Pemagatshel
Nov 21-24
Nalakhar Tshechu
Bumthang
Nov 30-Dec 2
Druk Wangyel Tshechu
Dochula
Dec 13
Trongsa Tshechu
Trongsa
Dec 10-13
Lhuentse Tshechu Lhuentse Dec 21-24