Tshechu of Bhutan: the Most Important Festival in Bhutan

A hugely Buddhist country, Bhutan is renowned for being one of the countries with the largest number of religious festivals in a single year. In Bhutan, festivals are known as “Tshechu” , which literally means “day ten”, and are held in the Dzongkhags and monasteries on the tenth day of the month in the Bhutanese Buddhist calendar, which is based on the Tibetan lunisolar calendar.

Tshechus are mainly religious festivals in Tibetan Buddhism in Bhutan, and are often held as large social gatherings that form a unique bond between the people of the remote villages of the country. Tshechu often feature large markets and fairs, which helps with local commerce, and the festivals are visited by almost all of the people in the local area each year.

How is Tshechu Celebrated by Local Bhutanese?

The main focus of a Tshechu are the Cham Dances, masked dances with colorful costumes that are typically performed by monks and laymen. The Cham dances are based on certain incidents from the life of Padmasambhava, known in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche. The dances are very precise in their movements, and are often considerably athletic, involving jumps and leaps that lift the dancers high into the air. The dances are often interspersed with singing and light dances by the women during breaks for changing costumes and scenery.

Atsaras are another popular aspect of the Tshechus, and are often seen during the breaks in between the major performances. Atsara is a clown that is believed to guarantee a good atmosphere at the Tshechu, and can be found in almost every religious festival in Bhutan, as well as a few non-religious ones. Atsara will often make jokes with the dancers and singers, some of which can be quite crude. The red mask, with its laughing mouth and cheeky-looking eyes, is a typical symbol of the happy nature of Atsara, who often appears on the stage from behind a yellow curtain patterned in red and green, a typical pattern in Bhutan.

The Thongdroel is the Bhutanese version of the Tibetan Thangka, and is a large religious image on cloth that is often unfurled at religious ceremonies and festivals. Thongdroels typically depict and image of the Guru Rinpoche in a seated position, surrounded by holy beings and deities from Tibetan Buddhism. Composed in a typical landscape format, the cloths used are made from several layers of silk, with the images on the cloth being made up from pieces of appliqué sewn onto the main background. Thongdroels are only displayed once a year at the Tshechu for the local goemba (monastery), and are stored until the following year in dry and dark rooms, rolled up and covered with yellow cloth for protection.

The Biggest Tshechu Festivals in Bhutan

While Bhutan does have more than 50 Tshechus throughout the year in the various Lhakhangs and Dzongs around the country, there are a few that are held that are bigger and more important than others. These Tshechus are the ones held in the major cities of the kingdom, in Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha.

Thimphu Tshechu

The largest of all the festivals in Bhutan, the Thimphu Tshechu is held in the capital annually. The Tshechu is held in the Tashichho Dzong and is witnessed by thousands of locals and tourists alike. Held from the 8th to the 10th of October in the Gregorian calendar, the Tshechu is traditionally preceded by several days and night of prayers by the monks and lamas of the monastery, as well as rituals to invoke the blessings of the gods. The highlights of the Thimphu Tshechu are the mask dances known as the Guru Tshengye (Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche) and the Shaw Shachi (Dance of the Stags).

Paro Tshechu

Possibly one of the most symbolic and spectacular festivals in Bhutan, the Paro Tshechu is the most popular festival in the Bhutanese religious calendar. Having gained something of a cult status with the people of the kingdom, the festival is preceded by a full day and night of constant rituals and prayers, and on the second day, the traditional ceremonies take place. The ceremonies and religious rituals take place inside the famous Rinpung Dzong, and on the third day onwards, the celebrations, dances, and general festivities take place. Lasting for a full five days, the celebrations bring devotees in to the festival dressed in the finest clothes they own to seek divine blessings.

Punakha Tshechu

Held right after the popular Punakha Drubchen, the Punakha Tshechu is a hugely popular festival with both locals and tourists alike. Held annually at the beautiful Punakha Dzong, the Tshechu is the site of the unfurling of one of the most intricate Thongdroels in Bhutan. Depicting a the Guru Rinpoche in the seated lotus position normally accredited to Buddha, the unfurling of this ancient and artistic brocade is the highlight of the festival. Thousands of onlookers crowd the area of the unveiling platform in the hope of a good view of the Thongdroel, and many devout Buddhists in Bhutan believe the mere sight of the Thongdroel will cleanse him of the sins of the year.

List of all Tshechu of Bhutan in 2023

Festival	Venue	Start Date	End Date
Punakha Drubchen	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	Feb 24	Feb 28
Punakha Tshechu	Punakha Dzong, Punakha	Mar 1	Mar 3
Tharpaling Thongdrol	Lhamoizingkha Drungkhag, Bumthang	Mar 7	-
Gomphukora	Gom Kora Lhakhang, Trashigang	Mar 29	Mar 31
Talo Tshechu	Talo Gonpa, Punakha	Mar 29	Mar 31
Gasa Tshechu	Gasa Dzong, Gasa	Mar 29	Mar 31
Paro Tshechu	Rinpung Dzong, Paro	Apr 2	Apr 6
Chhorten Kora	Chorten Kora, Trashiyangtshe	Apr 5	Apr 20
Domkhar Tshechu	Domkhar, Bumthang	Apr 30	May 2
Ura Yakchoe	Ura Lhakhang, Bumthang	May 2	May 6
Nimalung Tshechu	Nimalung Dratshang, Bumthang	Jun 26	Jun 28
Kurjey Tshechu	Kurjey Lhakhang, Bumthang	Jun 28	-
Tour of the Dragon	Bumthang to Thimphu	Sept 2	-
Thimphu Drubchen	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	Sept 21	-
Wangdue Tshechu	Wangduephodrang	Sept 22	Sept 24
Tamshing Phala Chhoepa	Tamshing lhakhang, Bumthang	Sept 24	Sept 26
Thimphu Tshechu	Tashi Chhodzong, Thimphu	Sept 24	Sept 26
Gangtey Tshechu	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha	Sept 27	Sept 29
Thangbi Mani	Tangbi Lhakhang, Bumthang	Sept 24	Sept 30
Jakar Tshechu	Jakar Dzong, Bumthang	Oct 21	Oct 25
Chhukha Tshechu	Chhukha Dzong, Chhukha	Oct 22	Oct 24
Jambay Lhakhang Drup	Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang	Oct 28	Oct 31
Prakhar Duchhoed	Prakar Khakhang, Bumthang	Oct 29	Oct 31
Dechenphu Tshechu	Dechenphu Lhakhang, Thimphu	Oct 24	-
Black Necked Crane Festival	Gangtey Gonpa, Phobjikha	Nov 11	-
Mongar Tshechu	Mongar Dzong, Mongar	Nov 19	Nov 22
Trashigang Tshechu	Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang	Nov 20	Nov 23
Jambay Lhakhang Singye Cham	Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang	Nov 27	-
Nalakhar Tshechu	Ngaa Lhakhang, Bumthang	Nov 27	Nov 29
Druk Wangyel Tshechu	Dochula, Thimphu	Dec 13	-
Trongsa Tshechu	Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa	Dec 20	Dec 22
Lhuentse Tshechu	Lhuentse Dzong, Lhuentse	Dec 20	Dec 22
Nabji Lhakhang Drup	Nabji Lhakhang, Trongsa	Dec 26	Dec 27

How to plan a Bhutan Festival Tour

If you are planning Bhutan festival tour to experience some of the amazing Tshechus in the kingdom, then you need to take certain things into consideration when making your plans.

First, decide when and where to go

The first thing to do is decide where you are going and which festivals you would like to see. Tshechus are traditionally held from the tenth day of each month in the Buddhist calendar, and you can often find several festivals in each month that can be visited, especially if there are a few that are longer than just one day. March, October, and November are the months that have the most Tshechus in the different areas of the kingdom, and are also good months for the Tshechus for better weather.

Then, make your reservation as early as possible

Tshechus are actually a popular time for tourists to visit Bhutan, as you can get an amazing insight into this unique religious culture. Pre-planning is the whole key to getting assured a tour on the dates that you require, as well as getting into the actual Tshechus themselves. Booking well in advance of the actual dates of the festivals is advisable, and the earlier the booking the better.

Tips for Attending the Tshechu of Bhutan

One of the most popular things to do when visiting a Tshechu in Bhutan is to have your guide find you some traditional local clothes to wear, as everyone attending the Tshechu will be dressed up the same way. This is a good way to integrate yourself into the Tshechu and enjoy it more.

Tshechu are religious ceremonies, so it is important that, during the rituals and prayers, you remain quiet and do not make loud noises, allow phones to ring, etc. Consideration should always be shown when inside the monasteries and temples in Bhutan.

Outdoor picnics are often a thing at Tshechus in Bhutan, and you should not be surprised if people you are passing invite you to come and eat with them. The people of Bhutan are friendly and welcoming, and it is actually ok to crash someone’s picnic and share your food with them, while sampling their local dishes too.

While hotels are the norm for most tourists in Bhutan, a homestay at a local farmhouse near the site of the Tshechu is an even better way to experience the local culture. You may not have all the facilities of your luxurious hotel, but the people show unparalleled hospitality, and you could even attend the Tshechu as part of their family.

Conclusion

Tshechus in Bhutan are the most important of all the religious festivals and ceremonies throughout the year, as they are all celebrated in honor of Padmasambhava, known here as Guru Rinpoche, the Buddhist master and sage who brought Buddhism to Bhutan on the back of a flying tigress that was his former consort. The Tshechus are the best way to learn more about the unique Bhutanese culture, and discover the true nature of Buddhism in Bhutan.