5 Festivals that Celebrate Bhutan in All Its Glory

In a country that measures human development through happiness, it is a kind of given that the event calendar would also be a little hatke. Bhutan is a country proud of its origins, religion and cultural quirks, which is why the events and festivals through the year are geared towards the celebration of its long-standing traditions.

One of the best ways to understand Bhutan’s cultural fabric is to be a part of its celebrations. (Plus, it’s a lot of fun!) Masked dances, colourful dresses, pyrotechnics and a feeling of joy all around – it’s quite the experience.

So, want to know when to travel to Bhutan? Just coordinate your travel dates with these festivals.

Thimphu Tsechu

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When: 11-13^th October, 2016

Tsechu literally means ‘ten days’ and this event is held throughout Bhutan every year to pay homage to Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), who introduced a tantric form of Buddhism to the country in the 8^th century. The tsechu is held across different cities in varying forms – but the one not to miss is certainly the Thimphu Tsechu.

Thimphu celebrates tsechu with great aplomb over the course of three days and thousands of people across Bhutan flocking to the capital to partake in the festivities. Taking place in the courtyard of the Tashichho Dzong, the tsechu involves religious activities, symbolic dances and the finest local cuisine. Plus it’s the most important festival in the Bhutanese calendar; so it’s a great idea to plan a trip to Bhutan this time of the year. 

Haa Summer Festival

When: 2-3^rd July, 2016

While the tsechu festival imposes a degree of solemnity, the Haa Summer Festival is all about letting your hair down. This recently-started festival is set amidst the stunning Bhutanese wilderness, and is all about getting re-acquainted with Bhutanese culture, sports and cuisine. If you want to try your hand at local sports like yak riding, or shake a leg to tribal folk songs, make your way to the Haa Summer Festival.

Sakteng Festival

When: 12-16^th June, 2016

If you want to see Bhutan at its most untarnished, head to the Sakteng Festival. A magnificent three-day festival held by the semi-nomadic Brokpa community, the Sakteng Festival is all about celebration and worship. Held in Sakten Valley in eastern Bhutan, the festival is where you’ll get to see plenty of traditional clothing and drink gallons of ara, the local wine. A number of traditional dances, such as the Ache Lhamo and Yak dance, are also performed by the Brokpas. These dances are indigenous to the Brokpa people, so the best time to see them performed is during the Sakteng festivities.

Punakha Drubchen and Tsechu

When: 13-16^th February, 2016

The Punakha Drubchen is the Bhutanese equivalent of the American annual Civil War re-enactment. A dramatic recreation of scenes from Bhutan’s 17^th-century battle with the Tibetan army, the Punakha Drubchen is a reminder of how the locals from the village districts came together to drive away the foes from the country. It is essentially a celebration of the peace and stability this victory brought to the country. One can witness local militia men, or pazaps, dressed in richly-ornamented battle gear, enacting the encounter with delightful earnestness. The Punakha Drubchen is immediately followed by the Punakha Tsechu, so that’s two reasons for you to visit.

Jambay Lhakhang Drup

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When: 14-17^th November, 2016

If you’re looking for some derring-do, the Jambay Lhakhang Drup is the Bhutan festival you should be checking out. Held to honor Guru Rinpoche and mark the establishment of the Jambay Lhakhang Monastery, this festival is a very lively occasion with two notable highlights. The first is the Mewang, or the fire ceremony, where locals race underneath a large flaming gate made of dry grass.

If you stay up till late at night, however, you can witness the truly unique event of Tercham, or ‘Dance of Treasure’. This involves masked dancers performing naked in the middle of the night as a means of blessing infertile women so they may bear children again! Sound interesting?

(Honorable Mentions: Black Neck Crane Festival, a cultural festival held to create awareness of the importance of conservation of the endangered Black-Necked cranes, the Paro Tsechu, Tour of the Dragon, Chorten Kora.)

Bhutan sure does go the extra mile to ensure that everyone’s smiling within their borders. So, which festival are you planning to visit?

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