Many visitors come to Bhutan to witness religious festivals held annually in Dzongs throughout the country. The most popular for the tourists are those held in Thimphu, Paro and Bumthang. They mark the busiest time of the year for the tourism and reservations (particularly for hotels) are frequently difficult to come by. The Dzongs come to the life with color, music and dancing as valley dwellers and towns folk dress in their best cloths and join together to exorcise evil sprits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and their rituals are performed in the Dzong’s courtyards and temples. Tourists are allowed into the Dzongs to watch the spectacle but they are not allowed inside temples.

Photography should always be discreet. It is generally allowed to take photograph at TSECHUS but not at DROMCHOES. Most of the dances date back to beyond the Middle Ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its spirituals importance and can perform by monks or lay village leaders dressed in bright costume. Certain festivals end with unveiling and worship of huge religious appliqués or THONGDRELS.  The moment of the unveiling is shrouded in secrecy and creates grate excitement amongst all the participants.

Thimphu and Paro festivals are most popular for tourists as they are the most accessible. Visitors who come to Bhutan at other times of the year should find out if other regional DROMCHOES or TSECHUS are taking place  as they can equally fascinating. The TSECHUS at Bumthang is well known for taking place almost entirely during the evening and containing exciting fire dances which are intended to help the childless women at the festival conceive during the forthcoming year.

Tentative Festival Dates For 2007

Tentative Festival Dates For 2008