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Festivals in Bhutan |
Religious festivals are held annually in Bhutan's dzongs at various times of the year. The main purpose of the festivals is to ward off evil through music, dancing, and rituals and to bring good fortune to the next year. You can watch mask dances, sword dances, and fire dances performed in the courtyards of the dzongs. Each dance has its own spiritual importance and can be performed either by monks or lay persons, and most of the dances date back to before the Middle Ages. At the end of some festivals you can witness the unveiling of a "thongrel," which is a tapestry of sorts that is hung from a wall in the dzong's courtyard. It is said that watching the unveiling of a thongrel will bring you good luck.
Many visitors come to Bhutan to enjoy the most popular festivals, which are held in Paro in the spring and in Thimphu and Bumthang in the fall. Festivals are well worth attending because they give you a different sense of the Bhutanese culture, plus they're fun and entertaining. Due to the interest in the festivals, these are the busiest times of the year for tourism. If you wish to attend a festival, we strongly suggest that you book your trip well in advance, as seat availability on Druk Air is limited.
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TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR 2010
TENTATIVE FESTIVAL DATES FOR
2010
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FESTIVAL
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PLACE
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DATES
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Punakha Dromche
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Punakha Dzong; PUNAKHA
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20th- 23rd
FEB
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Punakha Tshechu
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Punakha Dzong; PUNAKHA
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24th - 26th
FEB
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Chorten Kora
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Chorten Kora; TRASHIYANGTSE
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28th FEB &
15th MAR
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Gomkora
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Gom Kora Lhakhang;
TRASHIGANG
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23rd - 25th
MAR
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Paro Tshechu
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Rinpung Dzong; PARO
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26th - 30th
MAR
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Chukha Tshechu
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Chukha
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28th 30th
MAR
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Domkhar Tshechu
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Domkhar, BUMTHANG
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23rd 25th
APR
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Ura Yakchoe
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Ura Lhakhang; BUMTHANG
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24th 28th
APR
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Nimalung Tshechu
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Nimalung Dratshang,
BUMTHANG
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19th 21st
JUN
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Kurjey Tshechu
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Kurjey Lhakhang, BUMTHANG
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21st JUN
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Thimphu Drubchen
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Tashi Chhodzong, THIMPHU
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12th 16th
SEPT
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Wangdi Tshechu
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Wangdi Dzong, WANGDUE
PHODRANG
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15th 17th
SEPT
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Tamshingphala Choepa
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Tamshing Lhakhang, BUMTHANG
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16th 18th
SEPT
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Thimphu Tshechu
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TaashiChhodzong, THIMPHU
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17th -19th
SEPT
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Tangbi Mani
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Tangbi Lhakhang, BUMTHANG
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22nd 24th
SEPT
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Jakar Tsechu
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Jakar Dzong, BUMTHANG
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15th 18th
OCT
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Jambay Lhakhang Drup
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Jambay Lhakhang, BUMTHANG
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22nd 26th
OCT
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Prakhar Duchhoed
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Prakar Lhakhang, BUMTHANG
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23rd 25th
OCT
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Crane Festival
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phobjikha; WANGDUE PHODRANG
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12th NOV
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Mongar Tshechu
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Mongar Dzong, MONGAR
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13th 16th
NOV
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Trashigang Tshechu
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Trashigang Dzong,
TRASHIGANG
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14th 17th
NOV
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Trongsa Tshechu
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Trongsa Dzong, TRONGSA
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15th 17th
DEC
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Lhuntse Tshechu
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Lhuntse Dzong, LHUNTSE
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15th 17th
DEC
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Please note that all efforts have been made to confirm the festival dates with Asssociation of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO). The dates of the festivals change from year to year because they are based on the lunar calendar, which itself changes every year. |
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| Copyright ©2003 Jachung Travel. All rights reserved. |
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