Many visitors come to Bhutan to witness religious festivals, which are held annually in dzongs throughout the country. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimphu, Paro and Bumthang. The dzongs come to life with colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and townsfolk dress in their best clothes to attend the festival. Rare masked and sword dances and other rituals are performed in the dzongs’ courtyards and temples.
Most of the dances date back to before the middle ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its own significance and are performed by monks or layman dressed in bright costumes. Certain festivals end with the unveiling and worship of huge religious appliques or thongdrels.
The proximity of Thimphu and Paro to the airport make their festivals the most popular. Visitors who come to Bhutan at other times of the year should find out where regional dromchoes or tsechus are taking place during their visit. In one festival in Bumthang, some programmes are held during the evening and include fire dances intended to help childless women at the festival conceive during the coming year. |
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