Blessed Rainy Day, known as Thrue Bab, is a significant and sacred holiday in Bhutan. It is celebrated annually on the 22nd day of the 7th lunar month, according to the Bhutanese calendar. The holiday marks the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of autumn. It is believed to wash away all physical and mental impurities clearing the path to enlightenment, clean virtue, and new beginnings.
On the Blessed Rainy Day, Bhutanese people wake up before dawn and take a cleansing bath in natural water sources. It is believed that the 'blessed rainwater' possesses natural healing and cleansing properties. Customarily, leaves of wormwood are used for their medicinal values that are believed to purify both body and soul. The day is a public holiday, allowing every citizen, irrespective of their day-to-day occupations, to take part and immerse themselves in this holy activity.
Following the ritual bath, families gather to feast on traditional dishes and spend the day together, further strengthening the bonds between the members. Due to the significance of this day in purifying the spirit, many also engage in religious activities such as prayer and meditation. Throughout the day, Bhutanese people relish local food and drinks, participate in traditional arrow shooting sport, and other fun-filled activities, thereby advocating unity, tranquillity, and cultural preservation.