JANUARY 2

WINTER SOLTICE

The day is auspicious for people of Western Bhutan who celebrates this day like New Year.

JANUARY 7 & DECEMBER 27

MEETING OF THE NINE EVILS

King Rahul (Tibet) married the Demon woman and had five children, four daughters and one son.

JANUARY 30

TRADITIONAL DAY OF OFFERINGS

This is a New Year event for peopla in Eastern Bhutan. But in general, it is a day to offer food to hungry creatures.

FEBRUARY 28 & MARCH 1

LOSAR (NEW YEARS DAY) FIRE MALE DOG NEW YEAR

This is the New Year (Losar) for all Bhutanese. It is celebrated like the 'Day of Offerings'.Bhutanese people celebrate for two days, whereas Tibetans celebrate for fifteen days.

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF THIRD KING HM JIGME DORJE WANGCHUCK

The father of the present King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck was born in 1928 at the Thruepang Palace in Trongsa.

MAY 7

SHABDRUNG KUCHOE

Commemorates the passing of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1651 CE at the Punakha Dzong on the tenth day of the fourth month in the Lunar Calendar.

JUNE 2

CORONATION ANNIVERSARY OF HM KING JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK

HM the King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was officially crowned as the fourth King of Bhutan in 1974.

JUNE 11

LORD BUDDHA'S PARINIRVANA

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Lunar Calender, Buddha passed away in Kushinagar, India, for nirvana life.

JULY 6

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF GURU RINPOCHE

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambava) was born on the tenth day of the fifth month from the Lake Danakosha in India locally known as Tsho Pema.

JULY 29

FIRST SERMON OF LORD BUDDHA

Buddha's first praching to the arhats at Sarnath, Benares in the Deer's park.

AUGUST 4

DEATH ANNIVERSARY OF THE THIRD KING.

HM King Jigme Wangchuck passed away in 1972 in Africa.

SEPTEMBER 24

BLESSED RAINY DAY

On this day all natural water sources are blessed. It is believed that by bathing early in the morning it rids one of disease, bad luck and bad karma.

SEPTEMBER 28

THIMPHU DRUBCHEN DROMCHOE (FOR THIMPHU ONLY)

This is a festival (Dromchoe) dedicated to the Mahakala and Penden Lhamo Deities but the holiday is given only to the residents of Thimphu.

OCTOBER 2, 3, 4

THIMPHU TSHECHU (FOR THIMPHU ONLY)

Celebrating the deeds of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambava). Three days of holiday is given to the residents of Thimphu.

OCTOBER 2

DASHAIN (NEPALI FESTIVAL)

Nepali Hindu festival celebrated by southern Bhutanese. A ten day festival celebrating Durga's (Wrathful form of Shiva's wife Devi) victory over the Buffalo Demon (Mahisasura).

NOVEMBER 12

DESCENDINGDAYS OF LORD BUDDHA

Buddha's mother (Queen Maya Devi) passed away when Buddha was seven years old. She was reborn in God's realm which is a place of 33 Devas.

NOVEMBER 11, 12, 13

BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF HM KING JIGME SINGYE WANGCHUCK

HM King Jigme Singye Wangchuck was born in 11 November 1955 at Dechencholing Palace in Thimphu.

DECEMBER 17

NATIONAL DAY

Sir Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned the first King of Bhutan on 17 December 1907 in the Punakha Dzong.