Festival Alert

 


 

 Bhutan’s ‘Jambay Lhakang Drup’ Festival - 27 to 30 October 2015

This remarkable cultural experience is set against the stunning backdrop of the lush Bumthang Valley. This central region is less frequented by tourists than the western areas of the country and known as the sacred heartland of Bhutanese Buddhism.

Comprising a program of centuries-old dances and rituals, the event features elaborate costumes and brightly painted masks in a series of sacred performances meant to drive out evil spirits, purify the temple and bring good luck to all.

During the guided eleven-day ‘Discover Bhutan’s Jambay Lhakhang Drup Festival’tour, travellers attend the festival for two days, witnessing the event’s most dramatic rituals. The Fire Offering is a particular highlight, during which locals bring firewood and other items to be burnt in a symbolic immolation of life’s obstacles. The ‘Naked Dance’ is another highlight of the festival, where performers clad only in face paint bless and purify onlookers.

The festival takes place from the 27 to 30 October 2015 and is central to this cultural tour of Bhutan. Other highlights include the chance to take in the astonishing scenery of terraced rice fields, pristine rivers and deep gorges in the Bumthang Valley, exploring the stunning dzong fortresses of Punakha, Paro and Trongsa, as well as the chance to hike through Bhutan’s central valleys to discover remote Himalayan villages.

“Bhutanese festivals are an absolute reflection of the country’s cultural conservation efforts”, said Backyard Travel’s General Manager Maeve Nolan. “The Jambay Lhakhang Drup represents one of the kingdom’s oldest and most colorful events, and gives travellers a glimpse of Bhutanese culture they’re unlikely to ever forget.”