Bhutan Festivals Calendar 2024
Festivals in the Land of the Thunder Dragon are rich and happy expressions of its ancient Buddhist culture. These festivals are held in all districts in honour of Guru Rinpoche, the saint who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. Tsechus are held on auspicious days and months in the Bhutanese calendar, and last up to four days in which a series of highly stylised masked dance rituals are performed.
Festivals are also a big family and social occasion. People dress up in their finest clothes and most resplendent jewelry of coral and turquoise. They pack picnic lunches in their traditional bamboo baskets and stay all day at the festivals which are usually held in the dzongs (fortresses) or at monasteries. Behind the scenes, the monks prepare themselves for weeks ahead of the festival, involved in deep prayer and meditation prior to the festival. The monks perform special masked dances that are inspirations of enlightened beings in history; and the Bhutanese believe that watching these mystical dances is essential to gain enlightenment.
Bhutan Festival by popularity
Paro and Thimphu Festivals are by far the most popular festivals in Bhutan. There are 2 main reasons why they are so popular. Firstly, they are located in the Western part of Bhutan, an hour drive away from the airport. This means that it is possible for you to do a 4 days visit just to attend the festival. If the festival is taking place in Eastern Bhutan, you would have to visit Bhtuan for a minimum of 10 days. Secondly, Paro and Thimphu Festivals take place in spring and autumn respectively, 2 of the best seasons to visit Bhutan.
Three years ago, we would usuall recommend travelers to books at least 6 months before their travel dates. With the growing number of hotels in Bhutan, we can usually accomodate travelers on last minute notice. However, do note that experienced guides are in high demand during this period. If you do have some flexibility with your travel schedule, we would recommend going for less popular festivals.