Festivals in Bhutan – What you need to know about Bhutanese festivals

Bhutan is one of the world’s most culturally significant and religious places. The country is also known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, which is of traditional significance. The land is full of colors and liveliness. Therefore, if you go to Bhutan for tours, you will likely be immersed in all the different festivals and celebrations there. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about the festivals in Bhutan. Make sure to read to the end to learn more!

What you need to know about Bhutanese festivals

Festivals in different parts of the world are celebrated differently. There is uniqueness in all types of celebrations, including that of the Bhutanese people. These festivals hold great significance in impacting the lives of the locals. Similarly, it would even be fair to say that the Bhutanese people get a boost of refreshment and can live their history and traditions through all the many festivals they get to celebrate in a single year.

The festivals in Bhutan are followed by fantastic cuisine you will never find in other parts of the world, including Asia. Unique dances, folk song performances, religious rituals, and extravagant yet authentic Bhutanese decorations are in every street and alley throughout the festivals. Masked dancers are more common in the country. Some masks may resemble lions, while others may resemble deities in Bhutanese history.

Likewise, it is common for onlookers or visitors to see monks walking back and forth between the Dzongs and monasteries, which you may find in every other city you visit. You will never find your sight short of vibrance or a pop of color during your journey. Bhutan is a very colorful country, and colors can be seen in the outfits worn by the locals, residential buildings, religious buildings, and even food.

Overall, your trip to Bhutan will be enjoyable and make up for a somewhat spiritual journey. You will also be able to explore the beauty of different religions through the festivals you can witness and celebrate alongside the locals. Festivals in Bhutan are about happiness, cultural embracements, the beauty of ancient elements, and authenticity combined with modernity.

The proper attire to wear during Bhutanese festivals

Though not common worldwide, the Bhutanese authorities have made it compulsory for the locals to wear traditional Bhutanese costumes during celebrations, festivals, and any special occasion. This, however, does not apply to visitors who are not residents.

Since the Bhutanese people are more keen on having everyone respect and love their culture and traditions, tourists should not worry about cultural appropriation when here. You can enjoy the festivals wearing whatever you find comfortable, including the Bhutanese costume. But it is just as important to remember to be respectful and modest while he is at it.

The men and women have two different yet similar-looking attire. The men can be seen in robe-like attires that reach a little below their knees. They also wear boots and pair the outfit with a belt. Additionally, the pants look simple but are unique and go well with only the attire. The national dress for men is known as Gho. Moreover, it is not expected to find this national attire in any other place in the world since the materials of the clothes are also made uniquely and have their specialty.

On the other hand, the women have just as elegant of an attire as well. Their national costume is known as Kira. Women tend to wear what looks like a long dress in a robe-like form. The costume can be found in different vibrant colors and is chosen without much religious significance in mind. While the females of the older times used to wear traditional shoes, in modern times, you can see feet with different elegant, suitable, yet not necessarily traditional footwear of the women.

If you do not have anything in mind, given that you choose not to wear Bhutanese attire, then wearing a formal suit as a man and a modest, loose dress as a woman would be the best choice. You also must be mindful of your choice of shoes. Make sure to avoid flashy styles and colors of both clothing and shoes. As long as you remain decent, you will be following the etiquette and fitting in the standards of the Bhutanese people while respecting their sensitivity against immodest or disrespectful attire.

Popular festivals in Bhutan

Bhutanese festivals are unique and have different motives. Many festivals are celebrated in large and quiet ways, meaning not every festival you experience will be loud and fancy.

The following are some of the  most popular festivals in Bhutan:

 Punakha Drubchen

This is the first among many festivals that you celebrate in Bhutan. If you visit the country in February, then you will be able to enjoy the celebration. Punakha Drubchen is one of the oldest festivals in Bhutan. The festival has been enjoyed since the 17th century.

The story behind this festival is the invasion of Tibetan forces by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal of Punakha in western Bhutan. In ancient times, Bhutanese troops’ military excellence and bravery are still sung through different martial performances during Punakha Drubchen.

There aren’t any particular families who come forth to speak about the historical incident. Instead, the average locals wear armor and traditional war ornaments to showcase the beauty of their history. You might as well see swords and some more conventional ancient war tools, which will leave you fascinated if anything.

 Gomphu Kora Festival

While most of the festivals on our list involve the harmony of the Bhutanese locals, the Gomphu Kora festival consists of the beauty of unity and harmony among the Bhutanese people and the neighboring regions, the most popular one being Arunachal Pradesh of North Eastern India. The people from Arunachal come to celebrate the festival and bring offerings to conduct religious segments.

As a visitor, you can witness different dances. The locals dance with wrathful masks of deities or dragons on their heads and equally alluring outfits. These dances are a few of the kinds you can find in some places in Asia, among which Bhutan comes first.

Along with the rejoices you can also go on a journey to explore the most unique, culturally significant, and beautiful souvenirs. These souvenirs are going to be ones that you can take home and be reminded of Bhutan and its cultural marvel. You will be lucky to be able to witness the festival if you visit it in March.

 Paro Tshechu

Paro Tshechu is another famous festival celebrated in Bhutan. The festival also has the name of the location where it is celebrated, Paro. It takes place in the front yard of the famous Paro Dzong. The region is also popular as the birthplace of Guru Rinpoche. You will be placed in front of the masked dancers, among many other onlookers who sit in the balconies and ground areas of the Dzong, to enjoy the performance.

The masked dancers’ dances signify Guru Rinpoche’s birth. Several dancers perform as Guru Rinpoche and the many deities of Bhutanese culture and history who have an essential role to play in the event. This festival is also celebrated during March, the same as the Gomphu Kora festival.

 Sakteng Festival

Sakteng festival is a festival in Bhutan celebrated by the Brokpa community. It is celebrated in June every year. The community resides in rural regions of the country, most particularly Merak and Sakteng. As a visitor, you can easily access these locations with the help of your local guide.

The festival also features many dances and different mouth-watering cuisines. The inhabitants of the regions where this festival is celebrated speak a native language called Brokpake, which is not the same as the language spoken by Bhutanese residents in other regions, especially those living in urban areas. Along with the dances, archery and horse riding are different physical activities to explore during this festival.

 Haa Summer Festival

The Haa summer festival is a welcoming event of the summer season. The festival’s name comes from where it is celebrated: Haa Valley. The community celebrating this festivity indulges in every other celebratory practice in Bhutan, such as archery, traditional dances, religious and traditional rituals, etc.

As you roam around the Haa Valley, you will also see many arts and crafts on display. The festival is unique because of the rainfall that occurs most days in July.

 Merak Tshechu

Merak is a traditional village in Bhutan. Likewise, Merak Tshechu is a festival enjoyed by communities living in Merak, hence its name. If you have scheduled your visit to Bhutan in August, you can join the locals and enjoy this festival. The Brook community most commonly celebrates Merak Tshechu.

Furthermore, this festival includes much rejoicing by spreading creativity in traditional arts and crafts while also marveling at the beauty of cultural dances and performances. Since archery is the national festival in Bhutan, you will also be able to enjoy the sport during this festival.

 Matsutake Mushroom Festival

Along with religion and culture, Bhutan has a unique tradition of celebrating food. Mushrooms growing around pine forests in the country are quite possibly one of the most popular and cherished food items there. Hence, the Matsutake Mushroom Festival is celebrated every August in Bhutan.

The festival does not restrict any outsider from enjoying it alongside the locals. Therefore, when you visit the country in August, you can view demonstrations of how to cook mushrooms, pick them, and devour their unique dishes. You will also enjoy many cultural performances by the Bhutanese locals.

 Thimphu Tshechu Festival (National Festival of Bhutan)

Among all the festivals on our list, the Thimphu Tsechu festival is the biggest and most important festival to be celebrated there. This celebration holds great significance and keeps the visitors entertained while also having them experience a beautiful festival that they’ll get to witness only once or a few times in a lifetime, given they are not locals from Bhutan. The Thimphu Tshechu festival is also known as the national festival of Bhutan.

If you visit the country during September, which is in the fall, you will be able to enjoy the festival’s prosperity of culture and traditions. Visitors can also explore different dances performed by both laymen and monks. At this time of year, you will see many other cultural performances, including religious rituals and a display of a cultural marketplace.

Travelers can buy unique souvenirs and keep their holiday spirits up by interacting with the Bhutanese people to learn more about the festival and its history. The Thongdrol, or religious scroll you can witness during this festival, signifies good karma and blessing. Therefore, the celebration is truly going to boost the spirituality among travelers.

 Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu

Along with the Thimphu Tsechu festival, travelers can enjoy another fantastic festival called Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu when they visit Bhutan in the fall. Various performances and rituals are held in front of the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, which brightens up the faces of the onlookers as soon as they start. Visitors will have a lot to carry home in their bags of memories if they visit the country in September.

From dramas and folksongs to dances, the celebration has many cultural and entertaining aspects that will keep you invested throughout your time there.

 Jomolhari Mountain Festival

The Jomolhari mountain festival is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in Bhutan. It is held in October on Jomolhari Mountain in the Paro district. This festival’s main highlight is to showcase Bhutan’s natural beauty. Flora, fauna, and the bizarrely unique traditions of the region are enjoyed with bliss by all.

Some aspects of this festival that stand out are yak rides, mountain bike rides, Bhutanese dances, and traditional Bhutanese marketplacecanhang Drup

In October, you can explore the beauty of another religiously and culturally significant festival called Jambay Lhakhang Drup, held in Jambay Lhakhang temple in Bumthang. The festival signifies purifying oneself from sins of any specific ill-doing one may have done through a ritual called Mewang, which directly translates to fire blessing. The masked dances and fire plays are indeed something you’ll have to experience at least once in your life.

The rituals performed during Jambay Lhakhang Drup are believed to cleanse a person’s sins and bless him with good luck. The Bhutanese people often perceive the festival as a chance to improve themselves as human beings and start a good life anew.

Since the festival’s significance is extreme and is connected to even the locals’ existence, you will find a different aura and spirits among the people throughout the celebration.

 The Black-necked Crane Festival

Many rituals worldwide may involve the sacrifice of living animals. However, Bhutan is truly exceptional in this sphere as well. The black-necked crane festival, held in November, promotes protecting and preserving black-necked cranes.

This is a bird species that is on the verge of going extinct. This festival favors keeping the birds alive by spreading awareness among everyone who pays a visit. It also reflects the emotional and mental awakeness that the Bhutanese people have when protecting elements in Mother Nature.

 Jakar Festival

Among the festivals mentioned above, the Jakar festival is among the most popular. It is celebrated in November. The festival signifies the birth and existence of Guru Rinpoche, so it is of great religious importance.

You can spot monks and laypeople performing mask dances. The masks also signify religious and spiritual importance as every mask and every dance performed wearing these masks tell a story that is believed to have happened in the history of Bhutan. The festival is very vibrant. You will, therefore, be able to witness the absolute marvel of traditions and ancestral beauty during this celebration.

 Domkhar Tshechu – December

Domkhar Tshechu is a famous festival celebrated during winter, most specifically in December. The festival is significant because it allows you to explore the beauty of colors in different elements of Bhutanese tradition, from dances to monasteries and the popping colors used for decorations. Despite the loudness of the celebration, one is likely to find serenity as well. This is one of the most outstanding features of Bhutanese festivals like Domkhar Tshechu.

In general, you are likely to find yourself spiritually inclined from within. It is also believed that the dances during Domkhar Tshechu ward off the evil spirits and toxicity from the lives of anyone who pays the dancers in deity mask a visit.

How do festivals in Bhutan play a role in attracting visitors to the country?

The festivals in Bhutan play a significant role in attracting visitors to the country and keeping them inside for a while, hoping to have the experience of a lifetime. The hospitality of the Bhutanese people and the beauty of each festival celebrated in the country are why tourism in Bhutan has only increased over the past few years.

The internet has given the country an excellent opportunity to spread the beauty and elegance of its many celebrations every passing year. This has also significantly increased the country’s GDP, helping it prosper, create better growth opportunities, and provide foreign visitors with the best possible services and amenities.

The following are some of the ways festivals in Bhutan have been attracting visitors:

 Attractive promotions

There is more than one way to promote the festivals celebrated in Bhutan. These festivals always manage to attract tourists because they are also some of the rarest ones in the world. Though every country in Asia has its kind of celebration, the ones you find in Bhutan always stand out from the rest. You will likely not see the festivals the same as in Bhutan or any other country, including Asian countries.

With the increased use of social media and content consumption, travel agencies, locals, and visitors have captured the land’s beauty. This reaches an audience of vast diversities and locations, which leads to them planning tours to the country and further leads to additional promotions.

 Uniqueness

Every festival celebrated in Bhutan is unique. Though a few festivals and their significance resemble one another, it would not be correct to say that either of these celebrations is the same. Likewise, if you have taken tours worldwide, you probably have never seen anything as unique in festivals as in Bhutan. Every festival holds religious, spiritual, or environmental considerations. This does not lead the celebrations to any form of seriousness because they have always valued refreshment and recreation.

 Spiritual findings

Though not all visitors to Bhutan are spiritual, many are. Hence, their belief in spirituality attracts them to the country every year, hoping to witness any event that may enhance their spirits. Spiritual findings are prevalent when you visit Bhutan. Every Buddhist belief and practice has its importance. Finding yourself becomes easier when you are indulged in festivals such as the ones you see being celebrated in Bhutan.

 Religious and cultural richness

Bhutanese people are keen on protecting their religion and culture. You will barely find a Bhutanese local who is not participative in these celebrations. The beauty of these festivals will stay with you even when you’ve bid farewell to the country. A religiously and culturally rich nation like Bhutan has always attracted many visitors. Given the people’s devotion and respect towards ancient practices, religion, and the richness of their culture and traditions, it will succeed in the future.

What impact do festivals in Bhutan have on modern Bhutanese society?

With the increase in modernity worldwide, there has always been an increased concern about festivals losing their essence in the long run. However, the Bhutanese youth and the older generation have made great efforts to keep their culture alive. The Festivals in Bhutan today resemble those celebrated many years ago. Therefore, by watching and keeping notes throughout history, the people in Bhutan have only grown awareness of the importance of their festivals, if anything.

The following are the impacts festivals in Bhutan have made on modern Bhutanese society:

 Preservation of traditions

One significant concern about traditions worldwide is that, with time, the younger and upcoming generations tend to neglect them. But the people of Bhutan have always been keen on keeping their traditions within their heart’s reach.

Every generation of different communities in the country teaches their children about the beauty and importance of their festivals. They make sure that their children enjoy and follow the rules of the celebrations, which has aided several generations in preserving age-old traditions.

 The feeling of harmony in the community

The festivals in Bhutan cannot be celebrated alone or with a small group of people. Every other festival requires a community to gather and put forth a show for themselves, whether mask dances or sports festivals.

This has increased the sense of harmony and community among the Bhutanese people. Festivals are one of the primary reasons why the natives in Bhutan live in closely-knit circles within a region. They also welcome outsiders visiting them, as they feel these foreigners respect their festivals as much as they do.

 Widespread compassion and values

If you have visited Bhutan before, you must know about the etiquette and strong values that the Bhutanese people hold. These people tend to be very mindful about what they say or do, and this trait is enhanced during gatherings and celebrations.

Socialization is a big reason why Bhutanese are always respectful of others and considerate, with a heart full of compassion and a mind with values. Whenever they come forth to enjoy a festival, their positive traits are strengthened to a reasonable extent.

 Education

Festivals in Bhutan play a significant role in educating the young generation. If young people are not given as much opportunity to explore the beauty of their nation and the religious history behind the festivals that are celebrated there, it would be impossible to raise generations of educated individuals from a nationalistic view.

However, festivals have increased the possibility of young generations growing keen and more interested in different celebrations while also playing a part in educating others and promoting the festivals.

 Economic growth

Festivals in Bhutan have positively impacted the country’s economic growth. During peak tourism, you will find tourists everywhere in the country and almost every other town or city you visit.

Most visitors come to experience the exceptional beauty of Bhutanese festivals and learn about their significance in the history of Buddhism and Bhutan. Increased awareness about these festivals and promoting different festivals have further led to many tourists visiting yearly.

Preservational efforts for festivals in Bhutan among Bhutanese locals

The Bhutanese people have always been good at preserving their culture while ensuring they don’t forget about the same. It is, however, not only the locals who are playing a part in the preservation efforts of festivals in Bhutan. The government of Bhutan is very strict about preservation efforts from their side. Along with this, many communities are fostering the growth and consistency of the celebrations in the country.

With the increase in technology, the Bhutanese youth have started using innovative modern ways to grow awareness about festivals and celebrations in the country. The schools in Bhutan also promote their festivals and teach young pupils about their necessity in society. Additionally, the transmission of cultural importance of the festivals from generation to generation also plays a role in cultural preservation efforts among Bhutanese locals.

Conclusion

Festivals in Bhutan are celebrated throughout the year. The locals celebrate and rejoice in festivals at different times throughout the year. Festivals in Bhutan are some factors that have kept the history and religious and spiritual importance of the sacred land alive.