Staff reporter

The Department of Tourism (DoT) has confirmed that for the first time since the pandemic, the annual Haa Summer Festival will be held from July 14 to 16 this year.

The three-day summer festival will celebrate the region’s culture, tradition, natural heritage, and the diversity of the local communities.

Aimed to promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Haa valley and to enhance the local economy, the festival promises a wide range of activities such as indigenous sports competitions featuring yaks, local cuisine like the famous hoentey, and delicacies made from buckwheat that the region is known for.

The festival will also feature cultural performances that highlight the unique cultural heritage of the region, such as masked dances, traditional music, and songs sung by farmers while working in the fields.

The festival will focus on the nomadic lifestyle of its highland people from the villages in Bje Gewog whose main source of income is raising yaks.

Director general of Department of Tourism, Dorji Dhradhual, said that the festival will provide an excellent opportunity for the visitors to experience the diverse culture of the region.

He said that due to the proximity of the dzongkhag to Paro and Thimphu, and as the summer months in Haa are relatively cooler with moderate rainfall, it becomes one of the best summer destinations in the country.

Beyond the festival ground, visitors have a diverse range of activities to experience, including hiking, visiting temples, and cycling tours, among others.