Layaps are excited about the upcoming Royal Highland Festival. The 5th Royal Highland Festival in Laya in Gasa is just around the corner. The festival is resuming after two years. The preparation for the event is in full swing today. It is done by the people of Laya Gewog at Langothang coordinated by the Gewog Administration. The highland communities from almost ten dzongkhag will be taking part in the event to showcase their unique culture and tradition during the event.
The event falls on the 23rd and 24th of this month.
With the opening of international borders, Layaps are expecting more tourists this time. They say the new road connectivity until Tongchhudrak would encourage more visitors. It would take only about four hours to walk to the event ground from the road point.
Several exciting programmes such as Agriculture and Livestock exhibition and the strong man (Nya-Goe) competition await the visitors. The famous 25-kilometre cross-country Laya Run will be held on the first day of the event and the runners will run from Ponjothang to Langothang festival ground. So far, more than fifteen people have registered for the race as per officials. Likewise, Yak Cooperative will exhibit their Yak products and Yakchham (yak dance) reinstituted in the event this year.
The Royal Highland Festival in Laya in Gasa is held annually to create and open economic opportunities to encourage and motivate highlanders to preserve and continue their culture and tradition. The Royal Highland Festival in Laya in Gasa was introduced in 2016.
Changa Dorji, Gasa
Edited by Sonam
