The people of Merak in Trashigang are gearing up for the first ever Rhododendron Week. The event, which aims to promote tourism in the east, will showcase a variety of locally made products, including souvenirs, traditional clothes, and cultural performances. The weeklong festival will take place at Sheytemi in Merak Gewog from April 3 to April 9.
Women in Merak are busy making souvenirs from wool.
Some residents are packing fermented cheese, while others are preparing traditional dresses for hire during the event.
Locally brewed Rhododendron wine, fermented for nearly a year, will also be available for visitors to enjoy.
Apart from the stunning bloom of Rhododendron flowers, visitors can experience unique cultural performances and savour traditional cuisine.
Residents from other gewogs are also preparing to showcase their unique heritage and food during the festival.
Choki Wangmo, a resident of Merak said “I am making souvenirs for display. We will be able to earn some income by hiring our traditional clothes. It will help in attracting tourists. Many tourists will be visiting during the event. They will be able to learn about our culture.”
Dawa, another resident said “We will celebrate Rhododendron week, and we have prepared wine using Rhododendron flower. We used last year’s flower.
Likewise, Chador Wangmo said “I do not own cattle so, earning an income is difficult. By making souvenirs, I hope to share our culture with visitors while earning an income. This will also help attract visitors from coming years.”
41 species of Rhododendron are found in Merak and Sakteng.
The flowering season of Rhododendron begins from early March and continues through August in high-altitude areas.
The Trashigang district administration is organising the event in collaboration with the Department of Tourism.
Sheytemi is 27 kilometres away from Rangjung town.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
