Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche 2023, 2024 and 2025 in Bhutan

The Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche is an official public holiday in the Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. It celebrates the birth of Padmasambhava, who is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2023	28 Jun	Wed	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2024	16 Jun	Sun	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2025	5 Jul	Sat	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2026	24 Jun	Wed	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Padmasambhava is referred to as Guru Rinpoche, meaning “precious master”, in Tibet and Bhutan. He is thought to have been born on day ten of month six of the Buddhist Calendar. On the Western Calendar, that generally works out to some time in June or July.

The legend has it that Padmasambhava turned his wife into a flying tiger and then flew on her back all the way to Bhutan. Once there, he is said to have spent over three years in intense meditation in a cave. Paro Taktsang monastery was later built on the site of that cave, according to tradition. The monastery is often called, “The Tiger’s Nest”.

Padmasambhava is credited with disseminating Buddhism throughout Bhutan and with taming the opposition of demonic forces that disliked his new religion. Tibetan Buddhism is now the state religion of Bhutan, and Padmasambhava is honoured with the title “precious master” or “precious teacher”.

On the Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche, there are special religious rituals performed at temples all across Bhutan. Most people in the country see this holiday as one of the most important on the calendar.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2022	9 Jul	Sat	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2021	20 Jun	Sun	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2020	30 Jun	Tue	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2019	11 Jul	Thu	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2018	23 Jun	Sat	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche
2017	3 Jul	Mon	Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche