The Royal Wedding

His Majesty the King announced to the nation at the opening of the 7^th session of parliament today that he will marry in October this year. “As King, it is time for me to marry. After much thought I have decided that the wedding shall be later this year,” His Majesty announced.

Before revealing the name of the future Queen of Bhutan, His Majesty said, “Now, many will have their own idea of what a Queen should be like – that she should be uniquely beautiful, intelligent and graceful. I think with experience and time, one can grow into a dynamic person in any walk of life with the right effort.” What is most important for Queen, His Majesty said, is that at all times, as an individual, she must be a good human being, and as Queen, she must be unwavering in her commitment to serve the people and country.

“As my queen, I have found such a person and her name is Jetsun Pema,” His Majesty announced. “While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation.”

Jetsun Pema, the future Queen of Bhutan, was born in Thimphu on June 4, 1990. She received her education from Regents College in London, the UK; the Lawrence School, Sanawar, in Himachal Pradesh and St. Joseph’s Convent in Kalimpong, India; and Changangkha Lower Secondary School and Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Jetsun Pema’s father, Dhondup Gyaltshen, is the grandson of Trashigang Dzongpon Dopola. Her mother, Sonam Chuki, comes from the family of Bumthang Pangtey. Jetsun Pema has two brothers and two sisters. She is the second eldest.

His Majesty said that his wedding with Jetsun Pema did not mean that he was starting his own family. “From the very day I received the Dhar Ngay-Nga [five-coloured scarves] from the sacred Machhen, the people of the 20 Dzongkhags became my family,” His Majesty said, adding that such is the duty and privilege of all Kings of Bhutan.

“It is through this union that I shall have a Queen who will support, and work with me, as I serve the People and Country,” His Majesty said.

His Majesty announced that the wedding will be in accordance with age-old tradition, to seek the blessings of the guardian deities. He, however, said, “I ask the government not to make any plans for a grand celebration. The happiness of my beloved father and the blessings of our People will give me the greatest joy and happiness.”

In recent times, Jetsun Pema has begun to accompany His Majesty on royal tours around the country.

In the parliament hall, Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley and the members of parliament expressed their happiness on the announcement of the royal wedding and highlighted the pivotal role of the Throne in Bhutanese nationhood. They offered good wishes to the future queen of Bhutan.

Outside the parliament hall, a wave of excitement and joy swept across the country as the people of 20 dzongkhags watched His Majesty announce his wedding on live television. The feeling of joy at the news is palpable on every faces.

In the capital, the news of royal wedding is a talking point wherever – in the offices, on the streets, in hotels, bars and restaurants.

Source: Bhutan observer

Of unearthly powers in archery

A tsip(astrologer) works hard from a shady room in a secret location. Colourful flags gently swayed in the autumn breeze and the Lingkana archery range looked resplendent in the glorious morning sun.

The playfield stood ready to witness history: a clash of the titans, between 13-sided royal team of dashos and the Royal Body Guard sharpshooters of the day.

The year was 1968. And the match had unique stakes.

Three most powerful tsips (oracles, of sorts) of the time — Geshe Dotey from Haa, Jagathang from Paro, and Tsing Tsing from Shaa — were summoned to support the royal team. The RBG team had none; they were also not allowed to perform rituals.

The match, presided over by the four Lopens of Zhung Dratshang, was set to test the practicality and the power of tsips during the archery match.

The tsips were seated close by the archery range with their crafts and tools. If they proved their supernatural prowess, a brand new jeep each and Nu 2,500 worth of coins awaited them. But then, alongside squatted a bucketful of boiling rice froth, rather ominously. If the tsips failed and the royal team was defeated, the hot froth would be poured down their heads.

Midway through the day, the RBG team sealed the fate of the tsips with a comprehensive thrashing of the royal team. And that’s the story of a bucketful of rice froth on the heads of three powerful tsips. From then on, tsips were not encouraged in the archery tournaments.

However, today, some three decades down the line, and despite the resolution passed by the National Council in 2010 banning motab-tsita-rimdo (astrological predictions and other rituals) during archery matches, the tradition of hiring tsips is still alive. Tsips still play an indispensable role during archery matches. But the whole affair is shrouded in secrecy.

Like any other archery tournament, the ongoing Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Archery Tournament is no stranger to the tradition of motab-tsita-rimdo.

Every morning, archers refuse to enter the range in fear that the rival archers will cross their entry path following a tsip’s instructions.

An eyewitness points out an instance during one of the semi-finals when a team amassed an unbelievable 20 points within an hour after their tsip showed up at the range in a drunken stupor.

The tradition of invoking protective deities from secluded monastic places while the archers sleep together with their bows and arrows at the altar is still ceremoniously followed.

Sleeping with women or letting them touch the archery equipment are avoided at all cost. The place of invocation is kept a secret to keep the rival tsip from counter invocation. Believe it or not, the fiercest rivalry in olden days went to the extent of serious physical injuries and often cost lives.

One Dendup Tshering believes his father’s poor eyesight and shaky fingers are the result of a tsip’s work. His father Rinchenla was a renowned sharpshooter while in the army.

“Involving tsips and unearthly powers during archery matches is part of our culture,” said 70-year-old Ap Dorji, who stopped plying the trade a decade ago. “The rituals also included warding off misfortunes and we were paid in grains contributed by all the villagers.”

He recollects the magnitude of a tsip’s work having its highs and lows. He says he has heard and witnessed the catastrophic anecdotes believed to be the result of tsips’ works. And yet, he also concedes it all probably could have been a coincidence.

Chodha between the two fiercest rivals used to be the chief battle of tsips during the olden days. Now it is the battle of riches, according to Ap Dorji.

Gyem Tshering, a sponsor and player in team Druk Chapcha Construction, one of the finalists of the ongoing Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Archery Tournament, said his team follows Khandugi Jhulam—the movement of the dakinis in specific direction which varies daily.

But every night in some part of Thimphu, archers remain awake the entire night performing rituals, hurling curses at the fire, and invoking the blessings of their deities. And this tradition of invoking unearthly powers for victory is said to be creeping into other games like football and basketball.

Bhutan Archery Federation prohibits such practice.

“If anything suspicious occurs on the range or if the opposing team complains with proof, then we act,” said Jurmin Wangdi, the assistant secretary general of traditional archery.

Source: Bhutan Observer.

Meet the people, the Festivals of Bhutan

The Paro Dzong and the town behind

Bhutan is the last living Mahayana Buddhist country in the world. The Buddhism was brought to Bhutan by the revered saint Guru Padmasamva, since than it had flourished in the country. The Tshechu festivals are to honor this great saint. It is the time when the dzongs and monasteries come to the live once in a year.
The Black hat dance

The dances are the mystical teachings and manifested mandalas of Buddhism in real life.

The Charming clown

For an individual to simply be present and see these sacred dances, and experience them with right mindset and pure intention is considered an auspicious opportunity.

The Devotees

It is the time, when people from all works of live leave behind their busy schedules and try to be the part of these great events. Being part of it is believed to gain spiritual merits. The festivals are Buddhist inspirations to the public in order to provide both teachings and direct experiences related to the path towards enlightenment.

The Durda Chham
Dancer in deep meditation

The colorful Machham