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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| 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) |