Our Festival Tours are combination of Festivals and Culture as these two are interrelated. We design this combination in the best interests of the prospective visitors. There are about 40 different Festival Events that take place at different times at different places in the country. The significant festivals are the District Festivals held at the Dzongs. The other festivals listed on the Festival Calendar are either monastic or community festival events.

The Tshechu is a religious festival honoring Guru Padmasambhava, believed to have born from a lotus flower. This Indian saint contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan around 800 AD. He is the founder of the Nyingmapa, the “Old School” of Lamaism which still has numerous ardent followers. The biography of Guru is highlighted by 12 episodes of the model of the Buddha Shakyamuni`s life. Each episode is commemorated around the year on the 10th day of the month by “the Tschechu”.

During Tshechus, the dances are performed by monks as well as by laymen. The Tshechu is a religious festival and it is a strong belief in Bhutan that you gain merits by attending Tshechus. Tshechus are also a yearly social gathering where the people, dressed in all their finery, come together to rejoice.

The Thimphu and Paro Tshechus are most popular. There are 21 Districts in Bhutan and each district has an annual Tshechu at different times. Most Tshechus however take place during Spring or Autumn seasons.

Detailed explanation on the meaning of each dance performed during the Tshechu will be provided to guests by the accompanying Guides.