Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Bhutan

Thimphu Drupchen, sometimes also called Thimphu Dromchoe, is a one-day Buddhist holiday that was first celebrated in the year 1710. Bhutan is an intensely Buddhist country and every major Buddhist feast day is a cause for celebration.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	9 Sep	Mon	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2025	28 Sep	Sun	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2026	17 Sep	Thu	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Note: Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe is observed in Thimphu only.

In 1710, Kuenga Gyeltshen is said to have seen visions of the Buddhist goddess Pelden Lhamo performing amazing dances before his eyes while he was lost in deep meditation. When he “awoke”, he then introduced a new holiday, dances inclusive, based on what he had seen.

On the day of Thimphu Drupchen, which falls on the seventh day of the eighth month of Bhutan’s sacred calendar, masked dancers perform before gathered crowds. The dancing is supposed to help protect people from evil and from bad luck. The dance moves are intended as an invocation to the gods to bless, send good luck, and drive away evil spirits.

On Thimphu Drupchen, people in Bhutan will don their finest attire and attend the festival. Then, only three days later, the multi-day Thimphu Tshechu festival begins.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2023	20 Sep	Wed	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2022	30 Sep	Fri	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2021	11 Sep	Sat	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2020	22 Sep	Tue	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2019	4 Oct	Fri	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2018	15 Sep	Sat	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *
2017	26 Sep	Tue	Thimphu Drupchen Dromchoe *