Public holidays in Bhutan consist of bothnational holidays and local festivals ortshechus. While national holidays are observed throughoutBhutan, tsechus are only observed in their areas.[1] Bhutan uses its own calendar,[2] a variant of thelunisolarTibetan 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.
Bhutan has sixteenpublic holidays.[1] Bhutanese holidays are rooted in theDrukpa Lineage ofKagyu Buddhism, theHouse of Wangchuck and theTibetan calendar. Even secular holidays, however, have a measure of religious overtone, as religious choreography and blessings mark these auspicious days.[3]
Winter solstice celebration inBhutan 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 toZhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder ofBhutan.[7] It also focuses on charity, particularly feeding others, and recreation.[8] The day is celebrated with feasting and traditional sports, includingarchery,digor, andkhuru (darts).[6] This holiday may have originally begun as a Bhutanese new year celebration.[9]
Dawa DangpaLosar (Dzongkhaལོ་གསར་,Wylie:lo gsar), or simplyDangpa 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."
February 21–23 are holidays commemorating the birth anniversary ofJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck the 5th and currentDruk Gyalpo.[1]
Zhabdrung Kurchoe[1] marks the passing ofZhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651 atPunakha 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]
May 2 is the birth anniversary ofJigme Dorji Wangchuck the 3rdDruk Gyalpo, who began Bhutan's first steps toward modernization (b. 1928,Thruepang Palace,Trongsa).[1][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.
June 2 is the coronation day of theJigme Singye Wangchuck, the 4thDruk Gyalpo (1974).[1] It also doubles as Social Forestry Day, where children plant trees.[12]
Lord Buddha'sParinirvana Day orDuechen 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 attainedNirvana. The day is considered as one of the most auspicious days for Buddhists and is a public holiday in Bhutan.[13]
The Birth Anniversary ofGuru Rinpoche is observed on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Bhutanese calendar in Bhutan.[14]
The First Sermon ofLord Buddha is observed on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Bhutanese calendar. It is also known asDrugpa 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 atSarnath. Therefore, the day is also calledChokhor Duechen.[15]
Blessed Rainy Day[1] (Dzongkha:thruebab) generally falls in September, and is held on an auspicious day duringmonsoon 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, andpurification through washing. In some parts ofPemagatshel, the traditional celebrations are more intense than those of evenLosar.[17]
Dashain, the mainNepalese (andHindu 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]
November 1 marks the coronation day ofJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the 5th and currentDruk Gyalpo (2008).[8]
November 11 marks the birth anniversary ofJigme Singye Wangchuck, the 4thDruk Gyalpo (b. 1955,Dechencholing Palace,Thimphu).[8] The holiday is also calledConstitution Day; under this king and at his behest, theConstitution of Bhutan was enacted.
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 marksGautama Buddha's return to Earth after attainingNirvana. In the eastern regions of Bhutan, the holiday is a popular occasion for performingLhasoel, which are religious offerings in the form ofara (traditional wine), blessings, and supplications.[20]
TheNational Day (Gyalyong Duechen) of Bhutan is December 17. The date marks the coronation ofUgyen Wangchuck as the firstDruk Gyalpo of modern Bhutan.[21] Celebrations are held atChanglimithang Stadium, and include a public address by the Druk Gyalpo and a procession including a statue ofUgyen Wangchuck to honor the first Druk Gyalpo and the independent Bhutanese nation.[22][23][24]
These are other major festive celebrations in Bhutan that are not part of the national public holidays.
Lomba Festival is a New Year of two western districts ofParo 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 ofHaa[25][27] while for the people for Paro is calledJomju.[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 ofBhutan.[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]
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Numeroustsechus, or festivals, take place for up to five days each at different locales acrossBhutan. These usually feature large-scale pageantry and costumes, allegorical dances,archery, andmusic.[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.
| Date | Tsechu | Location |
|---|---|---|
| January 2–04 | Trongsa Tsechu | Trongsa |
| January 2–04 | Lhuntse Tsechu | Lhuntse |
| January 2–04 | Pemagatshel Tsechu | Pemagatshel |
| January 9 | Shingkhar Metochodpa | Bumthang |
| January 9–13 | Nabji Lhakhang Drup | Trongsa |
| February 10–15 | Punakha Dromache & Tshechu | Punakha |
| February 17–21 | Tangsibi Mani | Bumthang |
| February 18 | Chorten Kora | Trashiyangtse |
| February 18 | Tharpaling Thongdrol | Bumthang |
| February 19–21 | Buli Mani Chumey | Bumthang |
| February–March (1st month, 7th day) | Trashiyangtse Tsechu | Trashiyangtse |
| March 4 | Chorten Kora (2nd) | Trashiyangtse |
| March 13–15 | Gomkora | Trashigang |
| March 13–15 | Talo Tsechu | Talo,Punakha |
| March 13–16 | Zhemgang Tsechu | Zhemgang |
| March 15–19 | Paro Tshechu | Paro |
| March 17–19 | Chhukha Tshechu | Chukha |
| April 1–03 | Gaden Chodpa | Ura,Bumthang |
| May 12–14 | Domkhar Festival | Chhume,Bumthang |
| May 14–18 | Ura Yakchoe | Ura,Bumthang |
| June 19–21 | Padsel–Ling Kuchod | Bumthang |
| June | Laya Bumkhosa Festival (Bongkor) | Laya |
| July 8–10 | Nimalung Tshechu | Bumthang |
| July 9–10 does not move | Alpine | Ha,Haa |
| July 10 | Kurjey Tshechu | Bumthang |
| July 29 | Gangte Kurim | Gangte,Wangdue Phodrang |
| October 1–05 | Thimphu Drupchen | Thimphu |
| October 4–06 | Wangdue Tsechu | Wangdue Phodrang |
| October 4–06 | Gangte Drubchen & Tsechu | Gangte,Wangdue Phodrang |
| October 6–08 | Tamshingphala Choepa | Bumthang |
| October 6–08 | Gasa Tsechu | District Gasa |
| October 6–08 | Thimphu Tshechu | Thimphu |
| October 10–12 | Thangbi Mani | Bumthang |
| November 1–05 | Shingkhar Rabney | Ura,Bumthang |
| November 3–06 | Jakar Tsechu | Jakar,Bumthang |
| November 10–14 | Jambay Lakhang Drup | Bumthang |
| November 11–13 | Prakhar Duchoed | Bumthang |
| November 12 does not move | Black Necked Crane Festival | Gangte,Wangdue Phodrang |
| November 22–25 | Sumdrang Kangsol | Ura,Bumthang |
| December 2–05 | Trashigang Tsechu | Trashigang |
| December 2–05 | Mongar Tsechu | Mongar |
| December 3–04 | Tang Namkha Rabney Tang | Bumthang |
| December 10 | Singye Cham, Jambay Lhakhang | Bumthang |
| December 10–12 | Nalakhar Tsechu | Bumthang |
| December 10–13 | Chojam Rabney Tang | Bumthang |
