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 Rinpoche, 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 stylized 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.
All Bhutanese try to attend a festival at least once in a lifetime, and for many, it is an important annual affair where they consider it a blessing to be able to watch the dances. Apart from the monks, community dancers also participate in the local festivals.
Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2019
| Name | Town | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punakha Drubchen | Punakha | Feb 12, 2019 | Feb 14, 2019 |
| Punakha Tshechu | Punakha | Feb 15, 2019 | Feb 17, 2019 |
| Tharpaling Thongdrol | Bumthang | Feb 19, 2019 | |
| Gasa Tshechu | Gasa | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 17, 2019 |
| Gomphukora | Trashigang | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| Talo Tshechu | Punakha | Mar 14, 2019 | Mar 16, 2019 |
| Paro Tshechu | Paro | Mar 17, 2019 | Mar 21, 2019 |
| Chhorten Kora | Trashi Yangtse | Mar 21, 2019 | Apr 05, 2019 |
| Domkhar Tshechu | Bumthang | Apr 14, 2019 | Apr 16, 2019 |
| Ura Yakchoe | Bumthang | Apr 16, 2019 | Apr 20, 2019 |
| Rhododendron Festival | Thimphu | Apr 19, 2019 | Apr 21, 2019 |
| Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang | Jul 10, 2019 | Jul 11, 2019 |
| Kurjey Tshechu | 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 | |
| Thimphu Drubchen | Thimphu | Oct 04, 2019 | |
| Wangdue Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | Oct 05, 2019 | Oct 07, 2019 |
| Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Bumthang | Oct 07, 2019 | Oct 09, 2019 |
| Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu | Oct 08, 2019 | Oct 10, 2019 |
| Gangtey Tshechu | Wangdue Phodrang | 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 |
| Jakar Tshechu | Bumthang | Nov 05, 2019 | Nov 09, 2019 |
| Chhukha Tshechu | Chukha | Nov 06, 2019 | Nov 08, 2019 |
| Dechenphu Tshechu Dechenphu | Thimphu | Nov 08, 2019 | |
| Pemagatshel Tshechu | Pemagatshel | Nov 11, 2019 | Nov 13, 2019 |
| Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey | Nov 11, 2019 | |
| Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Bumthang | Nov 13, 2019 | Nov 16, 2019 |
| Prakhar Duchhoed | Bumthang | Nov 14, 2019 | Nov 16, 2019 |
| Mongar Tshechu | Mongar | Dec 04, 2019 | Dec 06, 2019 |
| Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang | Dec 05, 2019 | Dec 07, 2019 |
| Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham | Bumthang | Dec 12, 2019 | |
| Nalakhar Tshechu | Bumthang | Dec 12, 2019 | |
| Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Thimphu | Dec 13, 2019 |