Many visitors come to Bhutan to witness religious festivals held annually in Dzongs through the country. The most popular for tourists are those held in Thimpu , Paro and Bhumthang. They mark the busiest time of the year for tourism and reservations are difficult to come by. Festival time is one of the only periods during a year when tourists are permitted inside the courtyard of the dzongs.

The dzongs come to life with colour, music and dancing as valley dwellers and townsfolk dress in their best clothes and join together to exorcise evil spirits and rejoice in a new harvest. Rare masked and sword dances and rituals are performed in the dzongs courtyards and temples.

Most of the dances date back to beyond the middle ages and are only performed once or twice each year. Each dance has its own significance and can be performed by monks or lay village leaders dressed in bright costumes .Certain festivals end with the unveiling and worship of huge religious appliqués or thongdrels. The moment of the unveiling is shrouded in secrecy and creates great excitement amongst all the participants. 

Thimpu and Paro's proximity to the airport makes their festivals most popular. Visitors coming to Bhutan on other times should find out if other religious festivals are taking place. In one festival in Bumthang, some programmes are held in the evenings and include fire dances intended to help the childless women at the festival conceive during the forthcoming year.