Page 60 - Bhutan: Hidden Kingdom of the Himalayas

National Holidays: Bhutan

In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/09 Shabdrung Kuchoe
Bhutan celebrates a number of national
06/02 King Jigme Singye Wangchuck’s
holidays that follow a lunar calendar. To
Coronation
ʭYO Z`_ TQ dZ` bTWW MP _]LaPWTYR O`]TYR _SP^P
holidays, please visit www.timeanddate. 06/21 Buddha’s Parinirvana
com/holidays.
08/05 King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck’s Death
01/02 Nyilo Anniversary

02/05 Crown Prince Birthday 11/01 King Jigme Khesar Namgyel’s
Coronation
02/21 King’s Birthday
12/17 National Day
05/02 King Jigme Dorji
Wangchuck’s Birthday

Historical Overview of Bhutan
Pre-20th-Century History

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was inhabited as early as 2000 BC, but little is known until the introduction of Buddhism in
the eighth or ninth century. Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rimpoche, is often credited
for bringing Tantric Buddhism from India to Bhutan in the eighth century. He established a
number of temples and monasteries including the famous Taktshang monastery built high on
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the Tibetan lama and military leader Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Escaping political foes
in Tibet, he arrived in Bhutan in 1616 and soon established himself as the religious ruler of
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construction of impressive dzongs or fortresses such as Simtokha Dzong, which guards the
entrance to Thimphu valley. He repelled attacks from rival lamas and Tibetan forces and
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An insightful leader, he used cultural symbols as well as military force to establish a Bhutanese
national identity, including the initiation of a number of sacred dances to be performed in the
annual tsechu festivals.
Shabdrung also established the dual system of government by which control of the country
was shared between a spiritual leader (the Je Khempo) and an administrative leader (the
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Modern History

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