If you miss the Bhutan traditional festivals in January, then February is the proper time to make up for these regrets.
Festivals with Bhutan features are continuously held in this month and the grand applique silk waved Buddhist image is ready to unveil and meet all the visitors.
Among the traditional Bhutan festivals, the most frequently held must be Tshechu and Thongdrol festivals in February.
Tshechu is the annual religious festival held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar calendar.
While the Thongdrol festival is mainly the display of a giant Thangkha or Thongdrol of applique silk Buddhist images.
Tshechu and Thongdrol festivals are large social gatherings with aborigines, farmers, distant merchants or even the highlanders all coming together.
These traditional festivals with large markets congregating during the days are bustling with commerce and to some points are the carnivals of the Bhutanese people.
The traditional festivals of Bhutan in February are collected below:
- Punakha Drubchen
- Punakha Tshechu
- Tharpaling Thongdrol
1. Punakha Drubchen
Time: 16th -18th Feb
Location : Punakha Dzong, Punakha
In the 17th century, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, the founder of Bhutan and also known as the lama who suddenly came alive through the sacred relics and objects displayed at the Royal Textile Academy in Thimphu, defeated the Tibetan invaders and led to the unification of Bhutan as one nation.
To honor this victory and commemorate this historic moment, a grand celebration, the Punakha Drubchen was held.
Nowadays, the celebration has become an annual festival in this district and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel’s heroic deeds have been effectively carried forward.
During the festival, lamas with colorful dresses and particularly designed masks reenact this epic battle to commemorate their hero.
2. Punakha Tshechu
Time: 19th -21st Feb
Location : Punakha Dzong, Punakha
Held right after the Punakha Drubchen, Punakha Tshechu is another popular festival in the country.
Punakha Tshechu festival is held annually to honor Padmasambhawa who was also known as Guru Rimpoche and had once introduced Tantric Buddhism throughout the Himalayas.
Monks in colorful brocade attire and with mask on their faces chant the Buddhist scripts and play enthusiastically during the festival.
The highlight of this traditional festival is the unveiling of a giant cloth thangka, a sacred scroll describing Padmasambhava and other small-sized Buddha from the Buddhist pantheon.
3. Tharpaling Thongdrol
Time: 24th Feb
Location : Tharpaling Lhakhang, Chumi, Bumthang
Tharpaling Thongdrol is a one-day festival held annually in Tharpaling monastery to display the giant thangka or thongdrol of Jowo Jampa and Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam alternatively.
Prayer ceremonies are performed by monks in the Tharpaling Lhakhang to the local people.