Festivals in Bhutan are rich and happy expressions of its ancient Buddhist culture. Festivals are annually held in every Dzong (fortress) and monasteries, the most popular attraction for tourist. This is a series of dances in honor of Guru Rimpoche (who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in 8th century) and many of the dances were established by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (who unified Bhutan in 17th century) or Pema Lingpa (Treasure Discoverer in 15th century). The dances are performed by monks as well as lay people. The dancers take on the aspect of wrathful and compassionate deities, heroes, demons and animals. The dances known as “Cham”, bring blessing upon the onlookers, instruct them in the dharma (Buddhist teachings), protect them from misfortune and exorcise evil influences. Festival is also a yearly social gathering where the people rejoice together, dressed in their finest clothing and jewelry of coral and turquoise.

The dates and the duration of the festivals vary from one district to another, but they always take place on or around the 10th day of month in the Bhutanese calendar.

Sl.	FESTIVAL	PLACE	DATES
1	PUNAKHA DROMCHE and TSECHU	PUNAKHA	1st – 8th MAR
2	CHORTEN KORA	TRASHIYANGTSE	11th MAR & 26th MAR
3	GOMKORA	TRASHIGANG	2nd – 4th APR
4	CHHUKHA TSECHU	CHHUKHA	7th – 9th APR
5	PARO TSECHU	PARO	5th – 9th APR
6	URA YAKCHOE	BUMTHANG	5th – 9th MAY
7	NIMALUNG TSECHU	BUMTHANG	30th JUN – 2ndJUL
8	KURJEY TSECHU	BUMTHANG	2nd JUL
9	WANGDUE TSECHU	WANGDUE PHODRANG	26th – 28th SEP
10	TAMSHINGPHALA CHOEPA	BUMTHANG	27th – 29th SEP
11	THIMPHU DRUPCHEN	THIMPHU	23rd – 27th SEP
12	THIMPHU TSECHU	THIMPHU	28th – 30th SEP
13	TANGBI MANI	BUMTHANG	3rd – 5th OCT
14	JAMBAY LHAKHANG DRUP	BUMTHANG	2nd – 6th NOV
15	PRAKHAR DUCHHOED	BUMTHANG	3rd – 5th NOV
16	NALAKHAR TSECHU	BUMTHANG	2nd – 4th DEC
17	MONGAR TSECHU	MONGAR	25th – 27th NOV
18	PEMAGATSHEL TSECHU	PEMAGATSHEL	25th – 27th NOV
19	TRASHIGANG TSECHU	TRASHIGANG	26th – 28th NOV
20	TRONGSA TSECHU	TRONGSA	25th – 27th DEC
21	LHUNTSE TSECHU	LHUNTSE	25th – 27th DEC