A decline in the number of lay monks or Gomchhens in Passaphu-Peydoong chiwog in Kangpar Gewog of Trashigang is putting local ritual on the verge of disappearance. Kagyay is a must performed annual ritual in Passaphu-Peydoong chiwog for the peace, prosperity and well being in the community. But today there are only a handful Gomchhens in the chiwog who can perform such a ritual.
61-year-old Dorji Tenzin is among the three Gomchhens in the chiwog who can conduct the ritual. He has been into it for the past 30 years. Owing to health conditions the two other Gomchhens are not able to conduct the ritual. So most of the time it is Dorji Tenzin carrying out the ritual. And it definitely does not come easy to perform a task which usually requires four Gomchhens.
More than anything, today, Dorji Tenzin is worried over who will take charge of his responsibility in the future. He said with age catching up, he might soon retire and fears this ritual might die a slow death with no one performing it. The lead performer, according to Dorji Tenzin, should have the spiritual ability to conduct the ritual.
“Three of us have been conducting this practice for years. But all of us are now getting old now. We are worried that this tradition might disappear soon as none of the youth is taking any interest in it,” said Dorji Tenzin.
Kagyay is performed to please the local deity to ward off evil forces. They fear leaving it unperformed due to lack of performers might invite disharmony in the locality.
“It is an annual religious ceremony that needs to be conducted without fail. I feel this culture would sustain only if our younger generation comes forward to learn and take up our roles. Today, students are helping us, but they might go outside once they complete their study,” Dorji Tenzin shares his concerns.
To work a way forward to revive the dying tradition, the chiwog’s Tshogpa has plans to call a meeting with the locals.
“We actually have a Tsozin, the religious head at our respective Lhakhangs. So we will discuss with them on identifying and recruiting new Gomchhen for this religious practice,” said Wangda Passaphu-Peydoong chiwog’s Tshogpa.
Besides the lack of performer, the ritual is also losing other cultural and traditional aspects attached to it. What used to be a houseful and cheerful gathering in the past is now an event of just the individual household in charge of it for the year. Around forty households in the chiwog take turns to conduct the ritual alternatively.
Changa Dorji
