Festivals are a huge integral part of the Bhutanese culture. Every district holds its own special festival in different months throughout the year. The most popular festival in Bhutan is known as tshechu, literally meaning ‘10th day’. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the Bhutanese lunar calendar in honour of the birthday of Guru Rinpoche.

Festivals are usually held at the courtyard of the dzongs (fortresses) or monasteries.

A festival in Bhutan typically lasts for three to four full days. But preparations for the festival happen months ahead.

You’ll experience various sacred dances at the festival performed by monks. Each dance performance carries a story and meaning with it. Thus, all the performers visualise their bodies as divine beings during the performance.

Expect the atmosphere to be full of life and colours. Vibrant masked dancers. Folk songs and music. Locals in exquisite traditional dress: gho and kira. Entertaining atsaras, cultural icon of Bhutan. Attending a tshechu is one of the best ways to observe and understand Bhutan’s history, customs and traditions.

For the locals, attending a festival is a means of enhancing their spiritual devotion to Buddhism, accumulating merits and socialising.

Paro Tshechu and Thimphu Tshechu are the two most popular festivals in Bhutan. It’s held in the two major districts: Paro and Thimphu, making it highly accessible for the locals and tourists. Thousands of people flock the dzongs during spring and autumn respectively to attend the festival.