Public holidays in Bhutan consist of both national holidays and local festivals or tshechus. While national holidays are observed throughout Bhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas.[1] Bhutan uses its own calendar,[2] a variant of the lunisolarTibetan calendar. Because it is a lunisolar calendar, dates of some national holidays and most tshechus change from year to year. For example, the new year, Losar, generally falls between February and March.
Winter solstice celebration in Bhutan known as Nyilo (Dzongkha: ཉི་ལོག, Wylie: nyi log "return of the sun"),[4] is a public holiday.[1][5] Nyinlog is considered the most auspicious day of the year.[4] It is celebrated like new year among some western Bhutan, though more so in the central and eastern regions, where the shortest day of the year is marked with archery and feasting.[5]
The Traditional Day of Offering[1] (Dzongkha: buelwa phuewi nyim) is a holiday usually falling in January or February, on the 1st day of the 12th month of the calendar.[6] The main purpose behind this holiday is to give thanks to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder of Bhutan.[7] It also focuses on charity, particularly feeding others, and recreation.[8] The day is celebrated with feasting and traditional sports, including archery, digor, and khuru (darts).[6] This holiday may have originally begun as a Bhutanese new year celebration.[9]
Losar
Dawa Dangpa Losar (Dzongkhaལོ་གསར་, Wylie: lo gsar), or simply Dangpa losar, the Bhutanese New Year is celebrated on the 1st day of the 1st month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar, which usually falls between February and March.[1] Festivities last 15 days, ahead of which people spend much time preparing food and alcohol and cleaning their homes of old and unused objects.[10][11] The common Losar greeting is "Losar Tashi Delek."
Zhabdrung Kurchoe[1] marks the passing of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651 at Punakha Dzong. It is observed on the 10th day of the 3rd month of the Bhutanese calendar. The holiday is a national day of mourning.[12]
The day is also celebrated as Teacher's day throughout the country. The day sees students coordinating various programs at schools and institution showing gratitude to their teachers. Students gift cards to Teachers, while some students substitute their teachers in class to give them a time-out. The day also constitute cultural programs showcasing various dance and song items focusing on teachers and their contributions. The day usually ends with a common meal for the entire school or institution.
Coronation of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck
June 2 is the coronation day of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the 4th Druk Gyalpo (1974).[1] It also doubles as Social Forestry Day, where children plant trees.[12]
Lord Buddha's Parinirvana
Lord Buddha's Parinirvana Day or Duechen Nga Zom is observed on the 15th day of the 4th month of Bhutanese calendar. On this day, Lord Buddha was conceived, born, subdued evil, gained enlightenment and attained Nirvana. The day is considered as one of the most auspicious days for Buddhists and is a public holiday in Bhutan.[13]
Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
The Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche is observed on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Bhutanese calendar in Bhutan.[14]
First Sermon of Lord Buddha
The First Sermon of Lord Buddha is observed on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Bhutanese calendar. It is also known as Drugpa Tshezhi, and is one of the holiest days in the Buddhist calendar. On this day, Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon or turned the first wheel of dharma at Sarnath. Therefore, the day is also called Chokhor Duechen.[15]
Blessed Rainy Day
Blessed Rainy Day[1] (Dzongkha: thruebab) generally falls in September, and is held on an auspicious day during monsoon season. The traditional holiday has not always been a public holiday, but was rather recently reinstated to official status.[16] The event is marked by feasting, drinking alcohol, playing traditional sports, and purification through washing. In some parts of Pemagatshel, the traditional celebrations are more intense than those of even Losar.[17]
Dashain
Dashain, the main Nepalese (and Hindu festival, falls on October 6.[1][18] During this holiday, houses are cleaned and replastered, gifts are exchanged, and families gather.[8] Dashain has been a public holiday in Bhutan.[19]
Lhabab Duchen or Descending Day of Lord Buddha is a public holiday[1] observed on 22nd day of the 9th month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar. Lhabab Duchen marks Gautama Buddha's return to Earth after attaining Nirvana. In the eastern regions of Bhutan, the holiday is a popular occasion for performing Lhasoel, which are religious offerings in the form of ara (traditional wine), blessings, and supplications.[20]
These are other major festive celebrations in Bhutan that are not part of the national public holidays.
Lomba Festival
Lomba Festival is a New Year of two western districts of Paro and Haa. The festival falls on the 29th day of the 9th lunar month in the Bhutanese calendar.[25][26]Hoentay is an important part of the Lomba for the people of Haa[25][27] while for the people for Paro is called Jomju.[25]
Ngenpa Gudzom is one of the major festive events in the Bhutanese calendar usually observed on the 7th day of the 11th Bhutanese month annually.[28] The day is considered the most inauspicious day on the Bhutanese calendar.[29] It is widely celebrated by the people of central and eastern regions of Bhutan.[30] Nyenpa Guzom or The Meeting of Nine Evils is not a public holiday in Bhutan. The day was removed from the national holiday list in 2007.[31]
Numerous tsechus, or festivals, take place for up to five days each at different locales across Bhutan. These usually feature large-scale pageantry and costumes, allegorical dances, archery, and music.[3] These festivals are centuries-old traditions functioning not only as links to the past but also attract large numbers of tourists.[32]
Below is a list of major tsechus in Bhutan, along with their 2011 dates. Dates in other years will vary.
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