Thimphu Tshechu in Thimphu in 2025

Thimphu Tshechu in Thimphu in 2025
Crowd at Tsechu festival Tashicho Dzong Image by Christopher J. Fynn , via Wikimedia Commons
  How long until Thimphu Tshechu?
Thimphu Tshechu
  Dates of Thimphu Tshechu in Thimphu
2026 Sep 21, Sep 22, Sep 23
Wed, Sep 23Regional Holiday (additional day)
Tue, Sep 22Regional Holiday (additional day)
Mon, Sep 21Regional Holiday
2025 Oct 2, Oct 3, Oct 4
Sat, Oct 4Regional Holiday (additional day)
Fri, Oct 3Regional Holiday (additional day)
Thu, Oct 2Regional Holiday
2024 Sep 13, Sep 14, Sep 15
Sun, Sep 15Regional Holiday (additional day)
Sat, Sep 14Regional Holiday (additional day)
Fri, Sep 13Regional Holiday
2023 Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26
Tue, Sep 26Regional Holiday (additional day)
Mon, Sep 25Regional Holiday (additional day)
Sun, Sep 24Regional Holiday
2022 Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7
Fri, Oct 7Regional Holiday (additional day)
Thu, Oct 6Regional Holiday (additional day)
Wed, Oct 5Regional Holiday
  Summary

Tshechu are annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district of Bhutan

When is Thimphu Tshechu?

Thimpu Tshechu is a public holiday in Thimpu, Bhutan on the 10th day of the 8th month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar.

Tshechu are annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district of Bhutan on the 10th day of a lunar month. The tshechu for Bhutan's capital, Thimpu is an important three-day festival.

Traditions of Thimphu Drubchen

Thimphu Tsechu was initiated by the 4th Druk Desi (secular ruler of Bhutan), Gyalse Tenzin Rabgay in the 17th century.  In the 1950s some changes were introduced in Thimphu Tshechu by the 3rd King of Bhutan, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck.

Tshechus are popular and colourful events where the entire community comes together to watch religious mask dances, receive blessings and socialise. As well as the famous mask dances, tshechus also include colourful Bhutanese folk dances and other forms of entertainment.

As befits the largest city in Nepal, the Thimphu festival is very popular and thousands of people from all over Bhutan will visit during the three days of the festival. 

Thimphu Tshechu is held at Tendrel Thang, the grounds in front of Tashichhoedzong (Buddhist monastery). Buddhist monks perform the mask dances known as cham to bless onlookers, to teach them the Buddhist dharma, to protect them from misfortune and to exorcise all evil. It is believed that merit is gained by attending these festivals and it is expected that everyone attends a Tschechu to wash away their sins.

The sacred Thongdrol (image) of Guru Rinphoche (an 8th-century Buddhist master, venerated as a "second Buddha" in Tibetan Buddhism.) is unfurled early in the morning on the last day of Thimphu Tshechu to bring blessings to all who view it.

The tshechu is preceded by several days and nights of prayer and rituals to invoke the gods. It even has its own pre-festival, Thimphu Drupchen, which takes places three days before Thimpu Tschechu.


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