country nestled within the Himalayan mountain boasts its mystifying characteristics. With a unique kingdom of verdant valleys capped with astonishing infrastructures, mostly undisturbed by the modern world. Your journey must be precisely organize since the country has a rigorous travel procedure for travelers coming into Bhutan. Norbu Bhutan Travel Pvt. Ltd.’s experts will exceptionally assist you in the experience of your lifetime with a itinerary that is tailored especially to your specific interests.
Norbu Bhutan’s expert guidance and the Bhutanese people will delight to show you around their thoroughly Buddhist and traditional way of life. So, if you are planning to make a trip to Bhutan in 2022. We will discuss the festivals in the Bhutan timetable that Bhutanese people celebrate around the country and, with any visitors who visit the country. Let’s start!
1. Winter Solstice (Nyilo) January 1, 2022
Nyilo, which means “New Year/Happ Year,” is a national holiday in Bhutan timetable that commemorates the Winter Solstice, the change of seasons, and the start of a new year.
Even though the Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 or 22 in the western hemisphere, Bhutanese people continue their Nyilo customs on January 1, 2022.
Bhutanese people believe that by celebrating Nyilo, they can put their past wrongdoings and misdeeds behind them. Any nice deeds performed on Nyilo are regarded to be worth more. Many locals and tourists can visit local temples and monasteries to burn butter-fueled lamps to multiply the worth of their good acts.
2. Traditional Day of Offering February 2, 2022
The Traditional Day of Offering in the Bhutan timetable is when Bhutanese people commemorate Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who united Bhutan under one government and spiritually in the 1600s. He was a revered Tibetan lama who worked tirelessly to promote Buddhism in Bhutan. His contributions to the military, government, education system and other spheres had a huge impact.
Special offerings are made to remember Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal on the Traditional Day of Offering. It’s a day to appreciate him for everything he’s done for Bhutan. But it’s also a day to celebrate with family and friends, provide food to the impoverished so they can eat, and participate in celebratory archery and other sporting competitions. Tourists from around the world come and celebrate this day along with the locals.
3. Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the King 21st – 23rd February
While he is the reigning king, his birthday is commemorated for three days in the Bhutan timetable. Throughout the kingdom, there are numerous festivals and parades. Although citizens are required to wear traditional attire every day by the government, there are many differences in dress styles throughout the festival ranging from color, fabrics, patterns, and designs. Visitors love to see the different design of fabrics and even try on themselves to experience the traditional dress.
4. Losar (New Year) 3rd – 4th March
The Losar New Year celebrations in the Bhutan timetable begin on New Year’s Eve and go for two weeks in various parts of Bhutan. However, the largest celebrations take place over the first three days of the New Year.
Losar was originally celebrated around the winter solstice, but it was gradually relocated to coincide with or near the Chinese and Mongolian New Year. On the Gregorian calendar, Losar (New Year) is usually celebrated in February or March. Bhutanese gather with their families to cook delicious Bhutanese cuisines and enjoy with their loved ones. Visitors can also participate in this celebration arranged by the travel agency so that they can have authentic Bhutanese dishes with locals and experience their way of life.
5. Birth Anniversary of Third Druk Gyalpo (King) May 2, 2022
Jigme Dorji Wangchuk was Bhutan’s third monarch. He was born in 1928 and ascended the kingdom at 24. He passed away on July 21, 1972, following a 20-year reign. After decades of relative isolation, Jigme Dorji Wangchuk opened up Bhutan to trade and relations with the outside world during his 20-year reign. He also introduced democracy, land reforms, educational advancement, road networks, and other infrastructure, among other things. He also established the five-year economic plan and was instrumental in Bhutan’s admission to the United Nations. This was why the public holiday in the Bhutan timetable is celebrated with such emphasis on his contribution to the nation.
6. Zhabdrung Kuchoe 11th May 2022
In the year 1594, Zhabdrung was born in Tibet. On the Buddhist Calendar, his death anniversary is on the tenth day of the fourth month, although on the Gregorian Calendar, it is usually in April or May.
Only Buddha and Guru Rimpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan for the first time, are revered more in Bhutan timetable, led by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Travelers traveling on this day can visit temples and monasteries to offer butter lamps guided by their tour guides.
7. Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana 14th June 2022
On the Bhutan timetable, Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana always falls on day 15 of month four, although on the Gregorian Calendar, the date changes. It usually arrives in May or June.
The holiday is based on the Buddhist belief that Buddha attained enlightenment and achieved “nirvana” on this day many millennia ago. Buddhists also believe that this was the day when their great leader was born. It is truly a blessing for visitors visiting around this holiday because they can visit the Buddha Point and pray along with the many Bhutanese visiting the place for blessings.
8. Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche July 9, 2022
Padmasambhava is known as Guru Rinpoche in Tibet and Bhutan, which means “precious master.” He was born on the tenth day of the Buddhist Calendar’s sixth month. On the Western Calendar, this corresponds to June but in the Bhutan timetable it is celebrated in July.
Padmasambhava is credited for spreading Buddhism throughout Bhutan and subduing evil powers opposed to his new religion, and Padmasambhava is known as the “precious master” or “precious teacher.”
9. First Sermon of Lord Buddha August 1, 2022
There are a variety of celebrations commemorating incidents in Buddha’s life. In Bhutan timetable, the anniversary of his first sermon is popular. On this day, thousands of people visit religious temples in the hopes of receiving Buddha’s.
10. Blessed Rainy Day September 23, 2022
Blessed Rainy Day in Bhutan timetable occurs at the end of the annual monsoon season, the end of the agricultural season, and the start of the harvest season. On the Buddhist calendar, it is a particularly sacred day. Travelers can enjoy the scene in the beautiful valley of Thimphu and wash off their sins on this rainy day.
On this day, it is customary for folks to take a bath outside, with the belief that any “bad karma” from the previous year will wash away. Diseases, ill-luck, and other negative effects must banished with this wash. People believe that they will gain double the merit by taking the morning bath according to astrologers specified time.
11. Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe 30th September
Masked dancers perform in front of people on Thimphu Drupchen, which falls on the seventh day of the eighth month of Bhutan timetable. People are protected from evil and bad luck by dancing. The dancing motions invoke the gods, asking for blessings, good luck, and the removal of evil spirits.
The festival is particularly enjoyed by travelers from around the world because of its uniqueness. They can sit along with the locals and enjoy mask dances performed by the monastic body of Thimphu.
12.Thimphu Tshechu 4th – 6th October 2022
The word “Tshechu” means “Tenth Day,” referring to Tshechus. On this day, different dzongkhag conducts mask dances and folk dances to honor the special occassion. Thimphu Tshechu falls on the tenth day of the Buddhist eighth month, which falls on October 11 this year. The date will vary somewhat from year to year due to variations between the Buddhist lunar and Gregorian solar calendars.
Tshechus are significant events in Bhutan. Each year, they look forward to Tshechu, and when it arrives, they dress up, pack their baskets with enough food to last at least a day, and head to the fairgrounds to enjoy the mingling and colorful events. It’s also a period of religious observance and bustling markets. The Tshechu in Thimphu is the second-largest in the country, drawing thousands of people from all around Bhutan and the world.
Cham dance is at the heart of every Tshechu. Cham dances entail wearing colorful costumes and masks to depict and teach moral virtues and vices and reenacting incidents from the life of Padmasambhava, the founder of cham dancing, and other well-known Buddhist leaders. Travelers from all around the world come and witness this astonishing festival of mask dances and get along with the locals to know more about the culture in Bhutan.
13. Coronation of His Majesty the King November 1, 2022
In December 2006, Bhutan’s current monarch, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, following his father’s abdication, ascended to the throne. He was not properly and publicly crowned as the new king until November 1, 2008. In 2008, the reigning dynasty of Bhutanese rulers celebrated its 100th anniversary.
The first coronation was very ceremonial and joyous. Thousands of high-ranking government officials, many of them from other countries, were in attendance. The streets brims with colorful banners and paint signs, while floral decorations cover various locations across the capital city. Still the celebration takes place in the country and visitors visiting around this holiday can enjoy the celebration help in the national stadium.
14. Birth Anniversary of Fourth Druk Gyalpo November 11, 2022
“Druk Gyalpo/Dragon King.” The Bhutanese refer themselves as “Dragon People” and their homeland as “Land of the Dragons.” Bhutanese address their ruler “The Dragon King” as an honorary title.
Aside from rural development, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo made significant contributions to establishing parks and environmental protection in Bhutan, judicial reforms and decentralization, and strengthening Bhutan’s connections with India and other UN members. A well deserved holiday in Bhutan timetable to honor his contribution to the nation and its people.
15. Descending Day of Lord Buddha November 15, 2022
On this day that Buddha returned to earth. After ascending to the “33rd Heaven” to impart his wisdom to the gods. He only decided to return to the earth following a disagreement with his students. Buddha have descended on three golden, gem-encrusted ladders.
The Lhabab Duchen holiday is actually seven days long, but Bhutanese calendar recognizes only the first day as a public holiday.
16. National Day December 17, 2022
A Tibetan King ruled Bhutan in the early 1600s, but the realm was partition into warring kingdoms following his death. From the 1860s to the 1970s, Wangchuk and his father were embroil in a civil war. Wangchuk defeated his rivals and ascended to the throne of Bhutan in 1907.
The reigning king participates in a parade at the national stadium for Bhutan’s National Day. The festivities of the day draw large crowds from all around the world. The day commences with a flag-raising ceremony in the national stadium followed by religious rituals in temples and monasetries.
Holidays and carnivals in the Bhutan timetable are to honor both Buddhist festivals and the royal family. Although Bhutan is evolving in line with the modern world, it has kept its culture strong and distinct. So that every traveler visiting this country experiences something unique and beautiful.
Norbu Bhutan Travel Pvt. Ltd. is always grateful and welcoming guests that want to explore this wonderful country to the fullest. Our experts will guide you through all the travel processes and assist you daily while you are here. Do visit our website and plan your trip to places to visit in Bhutan and make it a memorable one with us.
