Punakha Drubchen / Tshechu festival

The Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu run back-to-back each year at Punakha Dzong, usually falling in February or March. The Drubchen opens with the Pazap, a masked re-enactment of Bhutan's 1639 victory over an invading Tibetan army, performed by men in traditional armor with swords and shields inside the dzong's courtyard. It leads directly into the Tshechu, where monks and lay dancers perform masked cham dances linked to Guru Rinpoche. Villagers from across the Punakha valley turn out for both.

Held annually at Punakha Dzong starting on the ninth day of the first month of the Bhutanese lunar calendar (roughly February or March), the Punakha Drubchen and Tshechu together form a five-day festival cycle. The Drubchen begins with the Pazap dance-drama, a costumed re-enactment of Bhutan's 1639 victory over an invading Tibetan army, staged by warriors in traditional armor in the dzong's courtyard. It is followed immediately by the Tshechu, featuring masked cham dances performed by monks and laymen depicting episodes from the life of Guru Rinpoche. The event draws villagers from across the valley and ranks among Bhutan's most historically rooted festivals, alongside community gatherings and small markets.