Bhutan’s big splash

Bhutan isn’t exactly a place you’d associate with water fights, bucket relays and mass bathing.

Yet come November, that’s precisely what will be happening in one corner of the serene Himalayan kingdom, when Bathing Carnival Bhutan gets underway from November 6-8.

The event takes its inspiration from the Bhutanese tradition of Thruebab, or Blessed Rainy Day, and the centuries-old Bhutanese practice of bathing in naturally occurring blessed water.

It’s worth noting that water holds particular significance in Bhutanese culture, where it is associated with purification, renewal and wellbeing.

And while the traditions behind the carnival run deep, the program itself is full of fun activities. Highlights include a tug of water war, mass bathing celebrations, water fights, bucket relay races, fly-fishing and an assortment of games involving balloons, rings and, inevitably, plenty more water.

There will also be a laser light show and bamboo-mat dining, while those hoping to remain relatively dry can browse local markets and watch demonstrations of traditional crafts, including the making of Tsatsi Buram, a local sugar candy, and traditional musical instruments.

The three-day event will take place amid the stunning landscapes of Telung in Pemagatshel, a region often referred to as the Lotus Valley.

Pemagatshel sits well away from the parts of Bhutan most international visitors tend to know, making the carnival as much an invitation to venture further afield as it is to join in with the local community for a cultural celebration.

“Bathing Carnival Bhutan is evolving into something truly special, finding happiness and meaning in nature and celebration of togetherness,” Pemagatshel Governor Singay Dorji says.

“Come for the water fight, perhaps. Stay for the chance to discover a part of the Himalayas you might otherwise have missed.”