BUILDING: WILDERNESS TREKS
Religion / Festival:

Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous, joyous affairs. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu, Paro and Bumthang and are also the most easily accessible. They mark the busiest time of the year for the tourism industry. Religious festivals (Tsechu) are important events and celebrated throughout the kingdom of Bhutan. The tsechus are the most colorful event and all Bhutanese gathers and celebrate at every Dzongs (fortress), temples, and monasteries. All the districts, dzongs and a large number of villages in the east, hold annual tsechus, which attract people from far and wide.
The main purpose of these festivals is to ward off evil through music, dancing and rituals and to bring good fortune to the next year. Following are some of the most fascinating festivals you might be interested in participating in. If you are interested in any of these festivities and wish to attend them, we strongly suggest that you book your trip well in advance, as seats availability on Druk Air during these periods are limited.
Tentative Bhutan festivals schedule 2008:
Place |
Name of the festival |
Date |
Punakha |
Punakha Domche |
Feb 11 - 15 |
Trashi Yangtse |
Chorten Kora |
Feb 27 and March 07 |
Trashigang |
Gom Kora |
March 14 -16 |
Paro |
Paro Tshechu |
March 17 -21 |
Bumthang |
Ura Tshechu (tentative) |
April 16 -20 |
Bumthang |
Nimalung Tshechu |
July 10 -12 |
Bumthang |
Kurje Tshechu |
July 12 |
Wangduephodrang |
Wangdu Tshechu |
Oct 7 - 9 |
Bumthang |
Tamshingphala CHOEPA |
Oct 8 -10 |
Thimphu |
Thimphu Drupchen |
Oct 4 - 8 |
Thimphu |
Thimphu Tshechu |
Oct 9 -11 |
Bumthang |
Thangbi Mani |
Oct 13 -15 |
Bumthang |
Jambay Lakhang Drup |
Nov 12 -16 |
Bumthang |
Prakhar Tshechu |
Nov 13 - 15 |
Mongar |
Mongar Tshechu |
Dec 4 -7 |
Trashigang |
Trashigang Tshechu |
Dec 5 - 8 |
Trongsa |
Trongsa Tshechu |
Jan 5 - 7, 2009 |
Lhuntse |
Lhuntse tshechu |
Jan 5 -7, 2009 |
Note: All efforts have been made to confirm the festival dates accurately. The dates of the festivals, however, change from year to year because they are based on Lunar calendar, which itself changes every year.
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