Bhutan Festival Tours

Bhutan Festival Tours

Bhutan's numerous festivals are a joyful expression of its culture which is largely inspired by Buddhism. The Tsechu - or the masked dance festivals - is a rare occasion and a living testimony to the country's ancient past. These festivals are a dedication to Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to Bhutan in the 7th century and contributed enormously to the diffusion of Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions including Nepal, India, Tibet and Bhutan. These festivals are held annually in every district (often in the Dzongs during which mask dances are performed by monks as well as laymen. Tsechus are also an important social event for the Bhutanese. People come dressed in their finest. Women wear their most beautiful jewelry, families pack their best food for lunch, men and women joke and exchange tales, and children crane their necks to catch a sight of the day-long dances. By attending these festivals it is believed that one gains merits or good luck and wishes are fulfilled.