The Ultimate Guide to Bhutan Thimphu Tshechu Festival

In Bhutan, the Thimphu Tshechu is one of the most important and the largest Tshechu (the largest festival) in the country, and attracts the largest audience of any festival in Bhutan. Held in the Bhutanese capital for a period of three days, the festival begins on the 10th day of the 8th month in the Bhutanese calendar. In solar calendar, it is held from September 24th to September 26th in 2023. Here is the most comprehensive guide to Thimphu Tshechu Festival, which will help you arrange your Bhutan tour with a unique Thimphu Tshechu Festival experience.

History of Thimphu Tshechu Festival

Literally meaning “Day Ten”, a Tshechu is held in each district of Bhutan on the tenth day of the month, though the month varies depending on the Dzongkhag it is being held in. Generally, Tshechus originated in Bhutan during the visit of Padmasambhava, the great Indian scholar accredited with introducing Buddhism to the kingdom in the 8th century. The conversion of locals to Buddhism often involved performing rites, reciting mantras, and performing dances to subjugate local spirits and demons. On his arrival, he performed dances in the Bumthang Valley in order to restore the health of the king, Sindhu Raja, who then aided with the spread of Buddhism throughout the country. The first Tshechu was organized by Padmasambhava himself, and the traditional Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava were performed as eight forms of dances, which later became known as the Cham Dances.

The Thimphu Tshechu was initially organized by the 4th Temporal Ruler of Bhutan, Tenzing Rabgye, in the 8th month of the year 1670. The Tshechu was begun to celebrate and commemorate the birth of Guru Rinpoche (the Bhutanese name for Padmasambhava) in the Tashichho Dzong. In 1867, the Tshechu was formally initiated by the Desi Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay and consisted of a few dances from a handful of monks, with no interaction from the locals other than prayers. The Tshechu in Thimphu underwent changes in the 1950s, when additional Boed Cham dances were added by the third Bhutanese king, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk.

How Do the Locals Celebrate the Thimphu Tshechu Festival?

The Tshechu in Thimphu is traditional preceded with several days and nights of prayers and rituals to invoke the blessings of the gods, and lasts for three days and two nights. Still held in the famous Tashichho Dzong and witnessed by thousands of locals and tourists, the Thimphu Tshechu is considered to be one of the most beautiful festivals in the kingdom.

The Tshechu is such a religious event that locals believe that attending it one can gain merits, so the Bhutanese people try and attend at least one Tshechu every year. It is also a major social event, and the people attending gather in their best finery to rejoice and celebrate.

Mask dances, also known as Cham Dances, are performed by the monks and lamas, dressed in colorful costumes with masks. The dances are normally representative of the original Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava (Guru Tshengye), and now also include such amazing dances as the Shaw Shachi (Dance of the Stags), Zhana Nga Cham (Dances of the 21 Black Hats), Durdag (Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Ground), and the Tungam Cham (Dance of the Terrifying Deities).

Another act that is popular at the Thimphu Tshechu is the appearance of the Atsaras. The Bhutanese form of clowns, these masked performers come on stage during the breaks between dances and are the comedy element of the festival, though they are more than just clowns in Bhutan. The traditional Atsaras, or Dupthobs, are the providers of protection, and the Atsaras in the Tshechu perform dances and jesting to entrance an evil force in the city and stop them from harming the people. They also perform more modern skits that are designed to give social and health awareness messages to the people.

Aside from the rituals and the dances and the performances, the event is a very social gathering for the people of Thimphu. A time to meet with friends, dress up in their finest clothes, and have picnics in the grounds of the Dzong, the Tshechu is a great time to enjoy relaxing and chatting with friends and family, as well as for meeting new people. The Tshechu also includes a small trade fair in the grounds outside the performance area, where local businesses can make their deals and trades for the coming year.

When to go for Thimphu Tshechu Festival in 2023?

In 2023, the Tshechu will be held from September 24 to September 26.

The Thimphu Tshechu is held in the 8th month of the Bhutanese calendar, which is derived from the Tibetan Buddhist Lunisolar calendar. Months in Bhutan do not actually have names, but are listed simply as the “first” month, “second” month, etc. Held on the tenth day of the eighth month, the Thimphu Tshechu happens on a different day each year in the Gregorian calendar. While planning a Bhutan tour with the Thimphu Tshechu, please feel free to contact us to get the festival date in the year you will travel to.

What’s the local weather like during the Thimphu Tshechu Festival?

September and October is the end of the summer and start of the autumn season in Bhutan, so there is always a chance that some rain may fall, as the monsoon has not fully left yet. Mostly cool and a little damp, but with plenty of clear days, Thimphu is normally warm enough to be comfortable still by the start of October, with temperatures ranging from 15 degrees in the daytime to as low as 4 degrees at night.

Thimphu generally has a mild climate, and the sunny days massively outnumber the rainy days at the time of the Tshechu, with only around 4 days of rain for the entire month of October. Normally, the Tshechu falls on a good day, although there is no guarantee of this.

Where to stay during the Thimphu Tshechu Festival in Thimphu?

Thimphu has a lot of good hotels, including three luxury five-star hotels, namely the Le Meridien, the Amankora Thimphu, and the Taj Tashi. Also, there are a number of normal 3-4 star hotels in Thimphu, including the Ghasel Hotel, the Hotel Norbuling, the Hotel Kisa, the Khamsum Inn, the Namseling Boutique Hotel, the Hotel Thimphu Towers, and the Hotel Shanti Deva, plus many more.

If you are planning a trip to Thimphu during the Tshechu, then you should really book early to ensure you have somewhere to stay. October in Bhutan is part of the second peak season of the year, and can be very busy, by Bhutanese standards. While you may not see hundreds of thousands of tourists in October, there are enough to fill the hotels in Thimphu at the time of the festival.

Tips for a Thimphu Tshechu Festival Tour in Bhutan

The Thimphu Tshechu is the most popular festival in Bhutan, and attracts almost as many foreigners as it does locals. Because of this, it is advisable to make your tour booking as early as possible, to ensure that you can get accommodation in the city for the festival dates. Even the tourist hotels can get fully booked at festivals times in Bhutan.

Festivals are not just social events, though you will find plenty of ordinary happy people at them, many of whom will be friendly and offer you food, drinks, company, and conversation, as well as allowing you to get in front to view the festivals better. The major Tshechus are religious events at which many Buddhists believe looking upon the famous Cham Daces can absolve them of their sins of the past year. When attending festivals, you should always be aware of the religious significance for the local people and respect the beliefs of the Bhutanese people. Remaining quiet during quiet periods in the ceremonies is expected for visitors, and if you are unruly, you can be sure you will be gently and very politely kicked out.

Tshechus are one of the main ways in which people from outlying villages can come into the city and spend time reveling with friends, family, and even strangers, though it is hard to be a stranger to anyone in Bhutan for long. Many of the villagers from the remote areas have seen little of foreign travelers until recently, so you need to be understanding of people that will want to look at you, talk to you to practice their English (English is the main language of instruction in Bhutan’s schools, and the people love to practice it everywhere and anytime they possibly can), and will often invite you to join them in wherever they are going. While it is okay to accept their invitations, it is also okay to politely decline, especially if you have a tight schedule.

Conclusion of Thimphu Tshechu Festival Guide

Thimphu may not have been the capital of Bhutan for long, but it has taken on the mantle of the leading city of the kingdom in its stride, becoming one of the most fascinating cities in Bhutan. And with the Thimphu Tshechu being the largest of all the festivals in Bhutan, it is no wonder the whole city is packed to capacity for the festival period. Of all the festivals in Bhutan, there is none better than the Thimphu Tshechu for enjoyment, relaxation, spirituality, and friendly hospitality.

Once you are going to planning your first Thimphu Tshechu Festival tour, it is suggested to make your reservation as early as possible for there will be lots of tourist as well as the locals.

There is no need to worry about the weather, the food, the transfer or the accommodation since all the detailed can be handled by us according to your requirements. Just feel free to contact us. We are ready to answer all your questions about your stay in Bhutan.