A Journey Through Bhutan's Festivals: Colors, Traditions, and Celebrations
Every year, dzong courtyards across Bhutan fill with colour as communities gather for their tshechu — a festival honouring Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to the Himalaya.
The masked dances
The heart of every tshechu is cham: sacred masked dances performed by monks and laymen. Each dance tells a story — the triumph of good over evil, or the journey of the soul after death.
The thongdrel
On the final morning of many festivals, a giant appliqué thangka is unrolled across the dzong wall before sunrise. Simply seeing it is believed to cleanse one’s sins.
When to go
- Punakha Drubchen & Tshechu — February/March
- Paro Tshechu — March/April
- Thimphu Tshechu — September/October
- Jambay Lhakhang Drup (Bumthang) — October/November
Dates follow the lunar calendar. See our festival tours.
