A dance performance during a festival in Bhutan. Image: flickr/Jean-Marie Hullot
Bhutan tourism is replete with colorful festivals just as the country is full of ancient monasteries and forts (dzongs). Each monastery or dzong holds an annual festival (Tsechu) which has a dual purpose, one, as a social occasion, and two, as an occasion to keep alive the teachings and philosophies of Buddhism. Continue reading
Kurjey Lhakhang Tsechu. Image: flickr/Anja Disseldorp
Bhutan has a score and more festivals throughout the year. Most of them are religious events known as tsechus, and they are celebrated on the 10th day of a month of the lunar calendar corresponding to Guru Rimpoche’s (Guru Padmasambhava’s) birthday. Continue reading
Punakha Festival. Image: flickr/David Orgel
In the 17th century, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal of Punakha in western Bhutan defeated the invading Tibetan forces which led to the unification of the country as one nation. To honor this victory, a grand celebration, the Punakha Drubchen (a.k.a. Puna Drubchen), was held. It went on to become an annual festival of the district. Continue reading