The Bhutanese people are devotedly religious, and this spirituality shines through in the major festivals of Bhutan. This does not mean that there are no occasions for people to be boisterous and enjoy themselves. However the religious aspect is always kept in mind, according to the Buddhist tradition that makes one contemplate about the next life.
The Tshechus Festivals are celebrated in Thimpu, Paro and surrounding areas for several days. They are dedicated to Guru Rimpoche who introduced Buddhism in Bhutan. The sword dances, performed by masked dancers, are believed to ward off evil spirits. The dances are centuries old and are performed biannually. The entire town turns out in its finery to watch the dances and celebrated the end of the harvest season. The festival time is the boom time for tourism, as people from around the world flock to the festivals.
On the occasion of the Dromcho festival, religious dances are performed and a large tangkha, or shrines are decorated and people throng to pay their respects to the tangkha. The sanctum sanctorum of the tangkhas is closed to tourists, though visitors are allowed to watch the festival.
Tourists must remember that the dates of the festivals vary depending on the lunar phases. If you are visiting Bhutan just to see the festivals, please confirm the festival dates before hand.
