Bhutan's festival calendar

Main festivals

What happens at a tshechu

The heart of the festival is the cham, sacred masked dances performed by monks and trained laymen. Each dance tells a story or teaches a lesson, such as the triumph of good over evil, the judgement of the dead, or the deeds of Guru Rinpoche. Watching them is believed to bring blessings.

Between the dances, atsaras (masked clowns) tease the crowd and keep things lively. Families bring picnics, and stalls outside sell snacks and games. On the final morning of several festivals, including Paro, a giant thongdrel (a thangka several storeys high) is unrolled before dawn and taken down before the sun touches it.

Festival etiquette

• Dress respectfully: long sleeves and long trousers or skirts. Wearing a gho or kira is welcome, and we can help you find one.
• Do not walk across the dance ground, and keep clear of the dancers' path.
• Photography is generally allowed in the courtyard. Avoid flash, never use drones, and don't block the view of people sitting behind you.
• Arrive early for a good spot, especially for the thongdrel.

Planning a festival trip

Festivals are the busiest times of year. Flights into Paro and hotels near the big festivals sell out months ahead, so we suggest booking at least four to six months in advance. Smaller village festivals can be just as memorable and much quieter. Tell us your travel window and we will tell you which festivals fall within it.

Our 8-day Tshechu Festival Tour is built around the Paro or Thimphu festival and can be adapted to any other.