When is the Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung?
Known as Zhabdrung Kuchoe, the Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung is a public holiday in this Himalayan Kingdom on the 10th day of the 3rd month in the Bhutanese lunar calendar. This means it takes place in either April or May in the western calendar.
About the Death Anniversary of Zhabdrung
The nation of Bhutan was founded in the 17th century by Zhabdrung (meaning “at whose feet one submits”) Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan Buddhist lama, known colloquially as the Bearded Lama.
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal was born into a royal family in Tibet in 1594. Despite being enthroned as the hereditary prince, his throne was usurped by a rival who claimed the right to rule. Ngawang Namgyal left Tibet and founded a new base in western Bhutan. Over the coming years, his power over the region increased and in 1634, Ngawang Namgyal won a decisive victory in the Battle of Five Lamas uniting Bhutan into a single country for the first time in history.
Ngawang Namgyal died in 1651. Fearing that news of his death and arguments over his succession would plunge Bhutan back into a time of tribal warlords and undo his efforts to unite the country, the local governors kept his death a secret for 54 years, giving the excuse that he was on a long silent retreat.
Until the start of the 20th century, Bhutan was ruled under the Tibetan dual system of government led by the Zhabdrung - reincarnations of the mind, body and speech of Ngawang Namgyal.
