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FESTIVALS OF BHUTAN

Bhutan festivals The Tshechu(literally "Tenth Day) is a festival honoring Padmasambhava, "one who was born from the lotus flower ", otherwise known as "Guru Rinpoche", the precious teacher. This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan etc. around 800 A.D. The dates and duration of the festival vary from one district to another, but they always take place on or around the 10th day of the month, according to the Bhutanese calendar. During this Tshechu, the dances are performed by monks as well as layman. The Tshechu is a religious festival and by attending it, it is believed that one gains merits. It is also a yearly social gathering where people come together to rejoice, dressed in all their finery. It is in this way that the festivals became a showcase for Bhutan's highly developed indigenous art of textile weaving.

Festivals in Bhutan attract crowds of tourists, as well as local clergy and laymen, like bees to honey. The most popular of these vigorously celebrated social events take place in Thimphu, Paro, Wangduephodrang, Trongsa, Bumthang, Mongar and Trashigang. In order to make your stay in Bhutan the most interesting and memorable one, we suggest that you combine your choice of tour itinerary with one of these festivals. Please also keep in mind though, that most of the festivals fall in the peak season. You should therefore book your tour well in advance. For further information, please feel free to contact us.

Tentative Festival Dates 2012

FESTIVAL	PLACE	DATES
PUNAKHA DRUBCHHEN	Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA	27th Feb. to 02nd March
PUNAKHA TSHECHU	Punakha Dzong, PUNAKHA	03rd – 05th March
THARPALING THONGDROL	Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG	08th March
TANGSIBI MANI (URA)	Tangsibi Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG	08th – 11th March
BULLI MANI (CHUMMI)	Buli Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG	09th – 11th March
CHHORTEN KORA	Chorten Kora, TRASHIYANGTSHE	08th March & 22nd March
GADEN CHODPA (URA)	Gaden Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG	20th – 22nd March
GOMPHUKORA	Gom Kora Lhakhang, TRASHIGANG	31st March to 02nd April
TALO TSHECHU	Talo Gonpa, PUNAKHA	31st March to 02nd April
ZHEMGANG TSHECHU	Zhemgang Dzong, ZHEMGANG	31st March to 03rd April
PARO TSHECHU	Rinpung Dzong, PARO	02nd – 06th April
CHHUKHA TSHECHU	Chhukha Dzong, CHHUKHA	04th – 06th April
DOMKHAR TSHECHU	Domkhar, Chummi, BUMTHANG	01st – 3rd May
URA YAKCHOE	Ura Lhakhang, BUMTHANG	02nd – 06th May
PADSEL-LING KUCHOD	Padsel-ling Gonpa, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	08th – 10th June
TAKIN FESTIVAL	Tsharijathang, Laya (JDNP) GASA	9th – 10th June
NIMALUNG TSHECHU	Nimalung Dratshang, Chummi, BUMTHANG	27th – 29th June
KURJEY TSHECHU	Kurjey Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	29th June
HAA SUMMER FESTIVAL	Town Festival Ground, HAA	9th – 10th July
THIMPHU DRUBCHEN	Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU	20th – 24th September
WANGDUE TSHECHU	Wangdi Dzong, WANGDUEPHODRANG	23rd – 25th September
GANGTEY TSHECHU	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG	23rd – 25th September
TAMSHING PHALA CHHOEPA	Tamshing Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	24th – 26th September
THIMPHU TSHECHU	Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU	25th – 27th September
GASA TSHECHU	Gasa Dzong, GASA	25th – 27th September
THANGBI MANI	Tangbi Lhakhang, Choekor, BUMTHANG	29th September to 01st October
SHINGKHAR RABNEY	URA, BUMTHANG	20th – 24th October
JAKAR TSHECHU	Jakar Dzong, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	22nd – 25th October
JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	29th October to 02nd November
PRAKHAR DUCHHOED	Prakar Lhakhang, Chummi, BUMTHANG	30th October to 1st November
SUMDRANG KANGSOL	Sumdrang Lhakhang, Ura, BUMTHANG	11th – 13th November
CRANE FESTIVAL	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha, WANGDUEPHODRANG	11th November
MONGAR TSHECHU	Mongar Dzong, MONGAR	20th – 23rd November
TRASHINGANG TSHECHU	Trashigang Dzong, TRSASHIGANG	21st – 24th November
TANG NAMKHA RABNEY	Tang Namkha, Lhakhang, TANG, BUMTHANG	21st – 23rd November
JAMBAY LAKHANG SINGYE CHAM	Jambay Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	28th November
CHOJAM RABNEY	Chojamrab Lhakhang, TANG, BUMTHANG	27th – 29th November
NALAKHAR TSHECHU	Ngaa Lhakhang, Choekhor, BUMTHANG	28th – 30th November
PEMAGATSHEL TSHECHU	Pemagatshel Dzong, PEMAGATSHEL	20th – 23rd November
TRONGSA TSHECHU	Trongsa Dzong, TRONGSA	21st – 23rd December
LHUENTSE TSHECHU	Lhuentse Dzong, LHUENTSE	21st – 23rd December
SHINGKHAR METOCHODPA	Shingkhar Lhakhang,Ura, BUMTHANG	28th December
NABJI LHAKHANG DRUP	Nabji Lhakhang, Nabji, TRONGSA	28th Dec. 2012 to 01st Jan 2013

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