Bhutan Festival Dates for 2024

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.

 

Name	Town	Start Date	End Date
Punakha Drubchen	Punakha	Feb 16, 2024	Feb 18, 2024
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha	Feb 19, 2024	Feb 21, 2024
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Bumthang	Feb 24, 2024
Zhemgang Tshechu	Zhemgang	Mar 16, 2024	Mar 19, 2024
Gasa Tshechu	Gasa	Mar 16, 2024	Mar 19, 2024
Talo Tshechu	Punakha	Mar 17, 2024	Mar 19, 2024
Gomphukora	Trashigang	Mar 17, 2024	Mar 19, 2024
Paro Tshechu	Paro	Mar 21, 2024	Mar 25, 2024
Chhorten Kora	Trashigang	Mar 25, 2024	Apr 08, 2024
Domkhar Tshechu	Bumthang	Apr 16, 2024	Apr 18, 2024
Ura Yakchoe	Bumthang	Apr 20, 2024	Apr 24, 2024
Nimalung Tshechu	Bumthang	Jun 14, 2024	Jun 16, 2024
Kurjey Tshechu	Bumthang	Jun 16, 2024
Tour of the Dragon (Mountain Bike Race)	Thimphu	Sep 02, 2024
Thimphu Drubchen	Thimphu	Sep 08, 2024	Sep 10, 2024
Wangdue Tshechu	Wangdue Phodrang	Sep 11, 2024	Sep 13, 2024
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Bumthang	Sep 13, 2024	Sep 15, 2024
Thimphu Tshechu	Thimphu	Sep 13, 2024	Sep 15, 2024
Jhomolhari Mountain Festival	Thimphu	Sep 14, 2024	Sep 15, 2024
Gangtey Tshechu	Wangdue Phodrang	Sep 16, 2024	Sep 18, 2024
Thangbi Mani	Bumthang	Sep 17, 2024	Sep 19, 2024
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Bumthang	Sep 18, 2024	Sep 21, 2024
Jakar Tshechu	Bumthang	Oct 10, 2024	Oct 13, 2024
Dechenphu Tshechu	Thimphu	Oct 12, 2024
Pemagatshel Tshechu	Pemagatshel	Oct 15, 2024	Oct 17, 2024
Prakhar Duchhoed	Bumthang	Oct 17, 2024	Oct 21, 2024
Royal Highland festival (Laya)	Laya	Oct 23, 2024	Oct 24, 2024
Chhukha Tshechu	Chukha	Nov 09, 2024	Nov 11, 2024
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang	Nov 10, 2024	Nov 14, 2024
Black Necked Crane Festival	Wangdue Phodrang	Nov 11, 2024
Nalakhar Tshechu	Bumthang	Nov 15, 2024	Nov 17, 2024
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Bumthang	Nov 15, 2024
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar	Nov 19, 2024	Nov 22, 2024
Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa	Dec 08, 2024	Dec 10, 2024
Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse	Dec 08, 2024	Dec 12, 2024
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Thimphu	Dec 13, 2024
Nabji Lhakhang Drup	Trongsa	Dec 15, 2024	Dec 16, 2024
Samdrupjongkhar Tshechu	Samdrup Jongkhar	Dec 24, 2024	Dec 26, 2024