Bhutan/Festivals

[Guest guest]

There are a lot of festivals in Bhutan. Please click on the website and scroll

to the bottom where you will see other information about the art of weaving and

archery:

http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/visitor.html

FESTIVALS (TSHECHUS, DROMCHOES)

The Festivals in Bhutan have reputations for being raucous, joyous affairs.

Tshechus dedicated to Guru Rinpoche and are celebrated for several days,

between three and five according to the location. The high-light are the

classical religious based dances and in some tshechus the viewing of the

thongdrel (a huge and sacred thangka) In a few important dzongs, two large

festivals take place each year; a Dromchoe which is dedicated to Yeshe Gompo or

Palden Lhamo, the two main protective dieties of the Drukpas.

The most popular for tourists are the tshechus held in Thimphu, Paro and

Bumthang. They mark the busiest time of year for the tourism industry. Airplane

tickets and hotel rooms are frequently difficult to come by. The dzongs come to

life with color, music, and dancing as valley dwellers and townsfolk dress in

their finest clothes and join together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in

a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and other rituals are performed in

dzong courtyards and temples. Most of the dances date back from before the

middle ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its

own spiritual importance and can be performed by monks or lay village elders

dressed in bright costumes. Certain festivals end with the unveiling and

worship of huge religious appliqués or throngdrels. The moment of the unveiling

is shrouded in secrecy and creates great excitement among all the participants.

Tourists are allowed into the dzongs to watch the festivals, but are not

allowed into the inner sanctuaries. Photography should always be discreet. It

is generally allowed for photographs to be taken at tshechus but not at

dromchoes.

Festival Dates: Please note that all efforts have been made to confirm festival

dates with Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB). In some areas, especially outside

Thimphu and Paro, festival dates can change without notice. Therefore it is

advisable to confirm dates for local festivals with the authorities concerned

at the Dzongkhags (District Dzong) or through Bhutan Tourism Corporation

Limited. Please note that the festivals listed below are considered the larger

and more well known. Small villages through out Bhutan have their own local

festivals that are too numberous to list here. All of the festival dates are

based on the Lunar Calendar and vary from year to year. Please note that 2003

festival dates have been issued by the Asssociation of Bhutanese Tour Operators

(ABTO) and all efforts have been made to confirm the festival dates, though a

few remain indicative, and are subject to change without notice. 2003 festival

dates are considered to be accurate at this point, they can be used for

planning purposes without to much time variance (dates usually vary by no more

than one or two days).

 

 

FESTIVAL DATES (TSHECHU & DROMCHOES)AND HOLIDAYS FOR 2003WATER FEMALE SHEEP YEAR

Winter SolsticeJanuary 3

LOSAR: THE WATER FEMALE SHEEP YEAR Traditional Day of Offering: March 3 & 4

WATER SHEEP NEW YEARMay 2

Birthday of Third King HMJigme Dorje WangchuckMay 11

Shabdrung KuchoeJune 2

CORONATION ANNIVERSARYJune 14

Lord Buddha's ParnirvanaJuly 9

BIRTH ANNIVERSARYOF GURU RINPOCHEAugust 2

First Sermon of Lord BuddhaAugust 7

Death Anniversary of Third KingHM Jigme Dorje WangchuckSeptember 23

Blessed Rainy DayOctober 1

DASHAINNovember 11, 12, & 13

BIRTHDAY OF HM KING JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCKNovember 16

DESCENDING DAY OFLORD BUDDHADecember 17

NATIONAL DAYDecember 29

http://www.kingdomofbhutan.com/visitor.htmlDo you ?

Platinum - Watch CBS' NCAA March Madness, live on your desktop!