National days is celebrated on December 17 every year and its the day when first king of Bhutan was crowned. And also Feb 21 is the Kings birthaday and this two are celebrated across the coutry with parades and dances by students.
New year (losar) is another important one, and in Bhutan we follow lunar calander so is different from international one. Basically new years are merry making with friends and families. And some play archery but there is not major celebration as such.
Tsechu which means (Tenth Day) are the festivals in honour on Guru Padmasambhava for his great deeds. This great deeds are believed to have taken place on tenth day including his birth, so the names are given Tsechu even if it does not fall on teth day.
Depending from place to place Tsechus are celebrated for 3 to 5 days. During this time there will be various sacred dances being performed along with some other cultural program. And in most of the places, they will display the big paintings called Thongdrol in one of the Day. Thongdrol literally means simply by viewing/seeing people can be delivered from cycle of reincarnations.
Tshechus are grand events where entire communities come together to witness religious mask dances, receive blessings and socialize. In addition to the mask dances, tshechus also include colorful Bhutanese dances and other forms of entertainment.
It is believed that everyone must attend a Tshechu and witness the mask dances at least once to in order to receive blessings and wash away their sins. Every mask dance performed during a Tshechu has a special meaning or a story behind it and many are based on stories and incidents from as long ago as the 8th century, during the life of Guru Padmasambhava. In monasteries, the mask dances are performed by monks and in remote villages, they are performed jointly by monks and village men.
Festival Dates for 2021
| Sl No. | Festival Name | Venue | Satrt Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punakha Drubchen | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Feb 19, 2021 | Feb 21, 2021 |
| 2 | Punakha Tsechu | Punakha Dzong, Punakha | Feb 19, 2021 | Feb 21, 2021 |
| 3 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Tharpaling, Bumthang | Feb 27, 2021 | |
| 4 | Talo Tshechu | Talo Goenpa, Punakha | March 21, 2021 | March 23, 2021 |
| 5 | Zhemgang Tshechu | Zhemgang | March 21, 2021 | March 23, 2021 |
| 6 | Gomphukora Tsechu | Gomphukora Lhakhang, Trashiyangtse | March 21, 2021 | March 23, 2021 |
| 7 | Gasa Tshechu | Gasa Dzong, Gasa | March 21, 2021 | March 23, 2021 |
| 8 | Paro Tshechu | Paro Rinpung Dzong, Paro | March 21, 2021 | March 23, 2021 |
| 9 | Chhorten Kora Tsechu | Chhorten Kora, Trashiyangtse | March 28, 2021 | April 11, 2021 |
| 10 | Rhododendron Festival | Lamperi Botinical Park, Punakha | April 16, 2021 | April 18, 2021 |
| 11 | Domkhar Tshechu | Domkhar, Bumthang | April 22, 2021 | April 24, 2021 |
| 12 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura, Bumthang | April 25, 2021 | April 27, 2021 |
| 13 | Nimalung Tshechu | Nimlalung Shedra, Bumthang | June 18, 2021 | June 20, 2021 |
| 14 | Kurjey Tshechu | Kurjey Lhakhang, Bumthang | June 20, 2021 | |
| 15 | Haa Summer Festival | Haa Valley, Haa | July 10, 2021 | July 11, 2021 |
| 16 | Mushroom Festival | Genekha, Thimphu | Aug 15, 2021 | Aug 16, 2021 |
| 17 | Tour of the Dragon (Bicycle Race) | Starts from Bumthang and end in Thimphu | Sep 04, 2021 | |
| 18 | Thimphu Drubchen | Tashicho Dzong, Thimphu | Sep 12, 2021 | |
| 19 | Wangdue Tshechu | MTC ground, Wangdue | Sep 14, 2021 | Sep 16, 2021 |
| 20 | Tamshing Phala Chhoepa | Tamshing Lhakhang, Bumthang | Sep 16, 2021 | Sep 18, 2021 |
| 21 | Thimphu Tshechu | Tendralthang, Thimphu | Sep 16, 2021 | Sep 20, 2021 |
| 22 | Thangbi Mani Tsehu | Thangbi, Bumthang | Sep 18, 2021 | Sep 21, 2021 |
| 23 | Gangtey Tshechu | Gantey Sangacholing Monastery, Wangdue | Sep 18, 2021 | Sep 20, 2021 |
| 24 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chukha Dzong, Chukha | Oct 13, 2021 | Oct 15, 2021 |
| 25 | Jakar Tshechu | Jakhar Dzong, Bumthang | Oct 13, 2021 | Oct 15, 2021 |
| 26 | Jhomolhari Mountain Festival | Soi, Thimphu | Oct 14, 2021 | Oct 15, 2021 |
| 27 | Dechenphu Tshechu | Dechnephug Lhakhang, Thimphu | Oct 15, 2021 | |
| 28 | Jambay Lhakhang Drup | Jambay Lhakhang, Bumthang | Oct 20, 2021 | Oct 22, 2021 |
| 29 | Royal Highland Festival | Laya, Gasa | Oct 23, 2021 | Oct 24, 2021 |
| 30 | Bhutan Bird Festival | Tingtibi, Zhemgang | Nov 11, 2021 | Nov 13, 2021 |
| 31 | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangtey, Wangdue | Nov 11, 2021 | |
| 32 | Mongar Tshechu | Mongar Dzong, Mongar | Nov 12, 2021 | Nov 14, 2021 |
| 33 | Trashigang Tshechu | Trashigang Dzong, Trashigang | Nov 12, 2021 | Nov 14, 2021 |
| 34 | Nalakhar Tshechu | Nalakhar, Bumthang | Nov 19, 2021 | Nov 21, 2021 |
| 35 | Trongsa Tshechu | Trongsa Dzong, Trongsa | Dec 11, 2021 | Dec 13, 2021 |
| 36 | Lhuentse Tshechu | Lhuntse Dzong, Lhuntse | Dec 11, 2021 | Dec 13, 2021 |
| 37 | Druk Wangyel Tshechu | Dochula, Thimphu | Dec 13, 2021 | |
