Bhutan Festivals

The Haa Summer Festival is a lively and uplifting celebration of traditional living-culture, nomadic lifestyles, unique Bhutanese cuisine, traditional sports and religious performances. It provides unparalleled insight into the lives and traditions of Bhutan’s nomadic herders. It showcases a lively traditional living culture, nomadic lifestyles, and demonstration of local cuisines, brewing of local ara, traditional sports, religious performances, dances, songs, artifacts and natural alpine flowers.

Druk Wangyel Tshechu festival is held in honour of his majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck and the Royal Bhutan Army for a successful military operation in which Indian militants hiding in the southern regions of Bhutan were successfully flushed out in December 2003.

Holding a historical significance, Punakha Drubchen Festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Bhutanese over the invading Tibetan armies. Upon attending the festival, tourists will not only learn about the rich culture of Bhutan but can also relive the era dating back to the 17th-century.

Nimalung Tshechu is a 3-days festival, and it is started with the usual chams and dances performed in other dzongkhags but on the final day, people are blessed with the display of Guru Tshengye Thongdrol in the morning. For the final day of the festival, people also get the opportunity to observe Guru Tshengye cham and Drametse Nga Cham performed by the monks of Nimalung Dratshang.

Every year on the 10th date of the second month of the Bhutanese calendar, a festival is held in the charming valley of Paro to celebrate the birth of Guru Rinpoche, a highly revered saint who spread Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan.

Kurjey Tsechu is celebrated in the popular Kurjey Lakhang in Bumthang. People of Jakar and Kurjey villages attend the Tshechu to pay obeisance to Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to Bhutan.

The Jomolhari Mountain Festival is a two-day event celebrated at the base of Mt. Jomolhari (7326 m) by the local communities that live along what could be one of the most scenic trekking routes in Bhutan.