bhutan festival – tshechu

There is nothing like attending a Tsechu Festival in Bhutan. Tsechu in the local language (Dzongkha) literally means the ‘tenth day’ of the month and is celebrated in different months throughout Bhutan in various Dzongs (fortresses) and monasteries. The festival commemorates the deeds of the Great Saint Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) in the form of well-choreographed mask dances, traditional songs, and dances by men and women dressed in colorful costumes.

The highlight of the festival is the sacred Cham dances which are performed by both laity and monks dressed in ornate costumes, with evocative titles like ‘’Dance of the Lords of Cremation Grounds’’, “Dance of the Terrifying Deities”, and “Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies”, etc.

Apart from its religious significance, Tshechus are important social events, where the entire community comes together to celebrate, and serves as an important setting for social bonding and cohesion especially for people from remote areas. The locals also take this annual occasion as an opportunity to flaunt their finest traditional clothes and jewellery, and it is also an occasion to feast on traditional local dishes.

When considering a trip to Bhutan, it is worth taking the festival dates into account as there is generally a festival somewhere every month. With a bit of advanced planning it is highly likely that you would be able to attend a festival somewhere in the country.

The most popular festivals are in Paro and Thimphu, and due to limited accommodations, trips during these times often have to be booked up to a year in advance. However, as you move further away from these centres, you can find smaller festivals with fewer tourists where the experiences can be very intimate and as enjoyable. We will be happy to customize a tour plan for you if you would like a Tsechu to be the highlight of your trip to Bhutan!

FESTIVAL CALENDAR FOR 2020

NOTE: Festival dates are tentative and subject to change. Please check with us to reconfirm.