Bhutan Festival Calendar For 2008-2009

A visit to Bhutan just isn’t complete without witnessing one of our Buddhist festivals with its colorful costumes and intricate dancing.  Bhutanese festivals mark important events in the Tibetan and Bhutanese calendars.  The most well-known and elaborate festivals in Bhutan are the tsechus.  Tsechus celebrate the life and work of Guru Rinpoche who introduced some of Buddhism’s most profound teachings and brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th Century.

Sacred Dancers in the village of Tsechu Bhutan. Photo by Nathan Ward

The tsechu is a multi-day event and these festivals are held throughout the country at different times during the year. The festival is a very special event in the lives of Bhutanese people and attending one is a way to gain merit and spiritual insight. People come from miles around, all dressed in their very best clothes, carrying picnics and drinks for the event.

Some of the dances you may witness include the Dance of the Four Stags, the Dance of the Judgment of the Dead or the Lute Dance. Whether you watch for a morning or witness the whole festival, the memories of Bhutan's ancient festivals are sure to remain with you forever.

Amitabha arranges journeys that take in the biggest festivals in Bhutan, but we specialize in traveling to the smaller, lesser-known festivals in order to give our guests a more personal and exclusive experience. If you like, we will also help you dress in traditional clothing to become more integrated into the festival scene.

Bhutan Festivals and Dates for 2008

Bhutan Festivals and Dates for 2009

These are only the major government festivals and many other private festivals are held throughout the year. We encourage you to visit one of the smaller festivals in the countryside. Please contact us with your desired travel dates and we’ll research the possibilities for you.

Contact Amitabha for more information.