| Public holiday - Friday April 20, 2018 Secular holiday : Election day
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| Shabdrung Kuchoe - Wednesday April 25, 2018 Secular holiday : The Shabdrung (also Zhabdrung) is the most important tulku lineage in Bhutan, equivalent in many ways to the Dalai Lama lineage of Tibet. The lineage traces through the founder of the country, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (b. 1594 -d 1651), a high Drukpa Kagyu lama who was the first to unify the warring valley kingdoms under a single rule. In Bhutan the Shabdrung is revered as the third most important personality behind Guru Rimpoche and the Buddha. http://experts.about.com/e/s/sh/Shabdrung.htm
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| The Third King's Anniversary - Thursday May 2, 2019 Secular holiday : Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1929 - 1972) was the third king of Bhutan. He ended his country's isolation, introduced modernity, and took the first steps toward democratization. Upon succeeding his father, Jigme Wangchuck, on October 27, 1952, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck put an end to feudalism in the country and released all of the remaining serfs. He encouraged certain modern inventions to assist the local peasantry and introduced wheeled vehicles, where previously the transportation of crops and people was done manually. http://pedia.nodeworks.com/J/JI/JIG/Jigme_Dorji_Wangchuk
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| Vesak - Buddha Purnima - Visakha Bucha - Tuesday May 29, 2018 Buddhism (Theravada) : Magha Puja or Sangha celebration. This day falls on the full moon of the third month. It commemorates the main event in Buddha's life, after His first retreated from the rain (Vassa). The anniversary of Buddah's birthday in the Mahayana tradition; the commemoration of Buddah's birth, enlightenment, and death, celebrated on the day of the full moon of the 6th month in the Theravada tradition. In some countries, may only be observed by the Hinduist community. In India, only celebrated in Andaman & Nicobar Island, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh. In Thailand, falls on the same day as Vesak
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| Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche - Saturday June 23, 2018 Buddhism (Vajrayana) : Padmasambhava (in Sanskrit meaning lotus-born ) founded the Tibetan or Tantric school of Buddhism in the 8th century. In Bhutan and Tibet he is better known as Guru Rinpoche ( Precious Master ) where followers of the Nyingma school regard him as the second Buddha. http://www.arikah.net/encyclopedia/Guru_Rinpoche
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| Summer holiday (beginning) - Monday July 1, 2019 School holidays :
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| First Sermon of Lord Buddha - Monday July 16, 2018 Buddhism (Vajrayana) : Marks the first sermon Buddha gave to his five disciples, introducing the middle way, the noble eight-fold path and the Four Noble Truths. It is celebrated with candlelight processions.
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| Summer holiday (end) - Tuesday July 31, 2018 School holidays :
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| Thimphu Drupchen - Saturday September 15, 2018 Buddhism (Theravada) : Lasts 5 days - The Drubchhen was instituted between 1705 and 1709 by Kuenga Gyaltshen, the first reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, the son of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. According to legend, Pelden Lhamo appeared before him and performed the dances while he was in meditation. Based on these dances, Kuenga Gyeltshen initiated the Drubchhen
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| Thimphu Tshechu - Wednesday September 19, 2018 Secular holiday :
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| Thimphu Tshechu - Thursday September 20, 2018 Secular holiday :
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| Thimphu Tshechu - Friday September 21, 2018 Secular holiday :
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| Blessed Rainy Day - Sunday September 23, 2018 Secular holiday : Natural water sources are blessed. Bathing in the morning is a good omen. Beginning of the harvesting season.
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| Thimphu Tshechu - Wednesday October 10, 2018 Secular holiday :
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| Dashain - Friday October 19, 2018 Hinduism : The victory of Durga on evil forces, the destruction of Vasanas (subjectivity, selfishness, desires...) and the achievement of the deepest Self. Dominance of Saraswati (pure science) over Lakshmi (applied science)
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| Buddha's Coming Down from Heaven - Wednesday October 31, 2018 Buddhism (Theravada) : Celebration of his return to earth from heaven. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and his mother expired after seven days. At the age of 41, he ascended to heaven to preach to his mother.
Nuns and monks and king Zug Chen Nyingpo were worried because they did not know where hewas. His disciple, the clairvoyant Sharibu, had a vision of the lord to be in heaven. Another disciple of Lord Buddha, Mao gyel ge bu, who was known to possess miraculous powers, ascended to heaven and requested Buddha to return to earth. He agreed to descend.
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