Tag Archives: Bhutan

Discovering Enchanting Festivals in Bhutan

Posted on by

Rich in culture and history, the enchanting kingdom of Bhutan also features a wide range of annual festivals which offer unique insights into the country’s heritage and its people. Travellers can make use of Bhutan tour packages that take you to regions where one can witness these cultural celebrations in all their splendour. Another option would be to stay at a centrally located Bhutan hotel such as Uma Bhutan which is ideally placed in the Paro Valley, making for an excellent base for your travels.

When it comes to festivals in Bhutan, there is much to choose from. Tshechu is a festival celebrated in order to honour the birthday of Guru Rimpoche though the exact date of the event can vary from place to place. Thimphu Tshechus and Paro are two of the best destinations in which to view the lively cultural festivities associated with this event. Another popular event is the Nomad Festival in Bumthang Dzongkhag where one can view colourful local costumes, sample exotic cuisine and observe the wonderful spectacle of a ceremonial procession. Those visiting in spring should look to take in Paro Tshechu and its many festivities. Held in Paro Dzongkhag, this event features the unveiling of a huge embroidery that has been created by monks and which is believed to be sacred. These are just some of the many festivals one can witness when in Bhutan.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Bhutan Nomad Festival – A slice of their life

Posted on by

Each year, the central valley of Bumthang witnesses a unique event of sorts. Hundreds of Bhutan’s nomadic highlanders bring together herders of the north eastern and north western Himalayan frontiers in celebration of their unique culture and traditions, giving visitors the ideal opportunity to peek into their authentic way of life.

Survival in the wilderness is hard. These nomads live under some of the harshest conditions closer to the snow capped mountains and it is interesting to see how they get by. The nomads of Bhutan depend on yaks for their livelihoods and therefore feature largely in their celebrations, traditions and customs. Although these communities are gradually entering the cash economy, they are still seen to be largely dependent on bartering practices. The ways of this people is simple and yet so vibrant that it never fails to fascinate.

When attending this festival, one gets to see how truly vast and unique Bhutan’s ethnic diversity is. The festival has participants from nomad tribes from the Ha, Paro, Wangdue, Bumthang, Trashiyangtse, Gasa and Thimphu districts, the Brokpas of the east and the Layaps of the west being the two major tribes. The grand procession of the Chipdrel, a ceremonial pageantry reserved for royalty is a must see event held during the get-together while it is also interesting to see some of the strongest and the most toughest highlanders demonstrate their skills in archery, wooden dart throwing known as khuru, soksum throwing (a light spear or javelin) and dego which is similar to horse shoe throwing but performed with rocks as well as engaging in Keyshey, traditional Bhutanese wrestling.

The Bhutan Nomad Festival is in fact a slice of their own life. Visitors are given the chance to enjoy a meal of typical nomad food sitting cross legged in a circle around a stone hearth with a nomadic family. Also witness the livelihoods of these people while a weaver weaves yak hair into a beautiful cloth, an artisan breathing life into a bronze statue or a skilled blacksmith forging a mighty sword.

Be exposed to a variety of products of the nomad way of life such as dairy, handicrafts and weaves; the festival often puts out these products on display in a multitude of stalls. Visitors will also get a chance to get dressed in typical Bhutanese highlander attire or truly deck out in an entire costume set spun out of yak hair complete with the conical bamboo Layap or the Brokpa black hat with the five long fringes down the front. Ladies can get their hair done in traditional plaits and colourful ribbons by the swift and nimble fingers of the female nomads and try on the elaborate apron adorned with flowers, animals or motifs tied at the waist for size.

There are many Bhutan tour packages that will allow you to experience this unique festival in all its vibe and vigour. Uma Bhutan is one such Bhutan hotel that is known to offer comprehensive tours and packages that let their visitors experience this colourful event to its fullest. Culture enthusiasts are advised to keep their eyes and ears peeled for the date and details of the next Bhutan Nomad Festival. This is something that you would not want to miss.

Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Takin Festival in Bhutan – an enthralling experience

Posted on by

The mountainous nation of Bhutan offers many attractions for the visitor and there is no better time to visit this fascinating country than during the much anticipated Takin Festival. The festival is named after the Takin, a unique animal which has the distinction of being the national animal of Bhutan. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, grazing placidly in the grasslands. These animals, unmistakable and surprisingly agile, thrive in the mountain environment.

The festival is held in the locality of Gasa within the Jigme Dorji National Park which is counted amongst the largest natural sanctuaries in the nation. This part of the country is beautiful and picturesque, offering sensational panoramas of pristine scenic vistas. This lovely natural environment has been thoughtfully nurtured by the local inhabitants for generations, so that the unsullied habitat has been preserved.

In the midst of this idyllic landscape the Takin Festival offers many unique experiences for the visitor. You will enjoy exploring some of the most appealing trekking terrains on the globe, immersing yourself in delightful hot spring pools and admiring the locally produced handicrafts. Visitors may look through and purchase attractive creations like yak wool apparel and tents, leather and bamboo items and other craft products.

You will have the opportunity to feast on the irresistible local culinary creations, whilst sitting around a customary stone fireplace, just as the local nomads have done for innumerable generations.

The journey to Gasa is an intriguing experience itself, as the traveller will traverse through verdant forests which form the habitat of the majestic Bengal tiger and the winter home of the Takin. On the journey you will see flourishing vegetation and shimmering waterfalls framed by the awe-inspiring peaks of the Himalayas.
A visit to the Takin Festival in Bhutan is a one of a kind experience which will undoubtedly be enthralling and memorable. This magical age-old culture may be experienced in no other location in the world.

Well-informed visitors seeking a quality Bhutan hotel will find an outstanding choice in the Uma Bhutan. The Bhutan tour packages offered by this travel specialist are an excellent way to explore this magical country.

Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Free Spirit. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Tshechus – an exciting festival of colour and dance

Posted on by

The vibrant little nation of Bhutan boasts an intriguing culture punctuated by Buddhist spirituality that lends it a charm all its own. Of particular note is the annual “Tschechu”, which is a religious festival that translates to “tenth day”, and is hosted by the various religious institutions of the country. The best way to experience the excitement of a tshechu is from a Bhutan hotel such as the splendid Uma Bhutan. Tschechus are celebrated in a variety of ways that differ from city to city, and an ideal way to experience all of it is via a series of Bhutan tour packages that the hotel can easily help organize for you. Held to celebrate the birthday of the renowned Guru Padmasambhava, tshechus occur on the tenth day of the month according to the lunar calendar. Visitors will encounter them as events filled with grandeur and excitement, as it sees the merging of whole communities to absorb the spiritual ambiance of religious mask dances, to receive blessings, and to socialize. You will also witness Bhutanese dances of colour and pageantry. Custom dictates that a tshechu must be attended in order to receive divine blessings to absolve them of all sins. Each dance featured at the tshechu draws its inspiration from myths and stories dating back as far as the 8th century during the life of the Guru. Two of the country’s most popular tshechus are the Thimpu and Paro Tshechus in terms of the pageantry and immense crowds drawn. Visitors are sure to delight in these unique cultural events that make up Bhutan’s impressive historical legacy. 

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.

Google+

Witness the Buddhist festivals in Bhutan

Posted on by

Festivals are a resplendent affair in the land of the Thunder Dragon with people dressed in the finest hand woven material, coral and turquoise jewels. One of the most significant festivals is the Tsechus which is held in all districts once a year on auspicious days of the Bhutanese calendar in honor of Guru Rinpoche who introduced Buddhism to Bhutan in the 8th century. The dance dramas and masked dance rituals last up to as long as four days with hundreds or even thousands of Bhutanese gatherings at monasteries to watch.

Monks as well as community dancers gather to form the parade of masked dancers. The monks prepare for months in advance in deep prayer and meditation and perform special mystical dances that are believed to be inspirations of enlightened beings in history. Bhutanese believe that watching these dances are essential to gain enlightenment and try to attend at least once during their lifetime and consider it a blessing to attend. Families from all over gather at dzongs or fortresses or at monasteries donned in their best clothes and resplendent jewels with packed picnic baskets in traditional bamboo baskets to watch the festival and so is a good place to meet your family members and have a good time.

Tsechus is a traditional way of passing on the knowledge, values, spiritual beliefs and mythology through oral forms such as music and dance. On the dawn of the final day a giant silk tapestry called the thangkha painting is unfurled amid prayers and offerings. Most of these appliqué thangkhars depict one or other of an important Buddhist deity such as Guru Padmasambava. The dromchoe, a festival dedicated to protective deities are celebrated at certain monasteries such as Paro and some re-enact the war against Tibetans and archery contestants complete with victory dances and cheerleaders to support. The fire dance or Thangbi Mani is a ritual practiced in central valley to purify the soul and the Drum Dance celebrated in the Eastern hills celebrates Guru Rinpoche.

It would do well to check on the local festival dates before booking your Bhutan Hotel to include the festival during your stay, especially if staying at a Paro Hotelwhere the festival is celebrated with vigor in the city. One can watch the parade re-enacting the 17th century war against Tibet at Paro and after a busy day head back to the comfort of Uma Bhutan.

Tsechu Festival – A Vibrant Cultural Display

Posted on by

Bhutan is a hidden treasure that borders India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and is a nation over pouring with richness ; richness in endless expanses of lush scenery and richness in culture. For many, Bhutan is still being unearthed, its secrets are slowly reaching every curious ear which are now craving for a sneak peak, a moment in this incredible country.

wangdue-phodrang-festival

What borders beautiful Bhutan are the snow capped mountains of the Himalayas. It starts with that and expands into lush forests and sparkling lakes that are adorned by plenty of monasteries and historic forts. It is tranquil and un-spoilt in the most literal sense. It has been known as the happiest country in Asia and the Last Shangri La alive. Just one step into this nation and you will only second this statement. Apart from Gods gifts to Bhutan, man itself has made Bhutan a haven in itself. The rich Bhutanese culture is definitely something, with an array of colours, it has a vibrant edge to it. The Tsechu Festival in Bhutan marks the epitome of the beautiful Bhutan culture. Tsechu literally means day 10 and is celebrated every year somewhere in October. It is a Buddhist festival and is primarily centred around a notable figure in the philosophy of Buddhism. The Tsechu Festival is an affair with colour. Dancers adorn themselves in flared colorful costumes and intriguing masks and perform a cultural fiesta. The festival goes on for a total of 4 days and has such a buzz around Bhutan that people from all over the nation come together to a single place to enjoy the celebrations of the Tsechu Festival.

bhutan_tsechuBeautiful Bhutan is nothing short of tranquilizing. The vast stretches of exotic landscape can keep you glued to this nation for weeks on end. Stay at the Uma Bhutan for a wholesome experience of a Bhutanese holiday. To attain ultimate bliss a comfortable good night’s rest is Pivotal and you can certainly expect all this and more in this Paro hotel. The Bhutan hotel culture focuses a lot on hospitality and in Uma Bhutan you can experience the finest of everything that this nation is so famous for.