Palang, a wooden flask once used to store the local brew, ara, is now prized as home décor. Crafting palang is more than a tradition. It has become a significant source of income for men in Sangkama, Jurme Gewog, Monggar. But the growing demand has also put pressure on Dongtshong Shing, the tree used to make palang, which is now becoming scarce.
This time around, 42-year-old Rinchen Dorji is usually done with his farm work and is using his free time to make wooden flasks.
He buys Dongtshong Shing, already hollowed and cut into jar-sized pieces, from a neighbouring village. It cost him around Nu 150 per piece.
Once he fixes a piece of wood onto his lathe, he shapes and chisels it into the right size for a palang.
He coats the inside with natural dye and leaves it to dry for several days. Only then does he cap the top and bottom, sealing the palang perfectly.
The final touch comes from silversmiths, who adorn the palangs with intricate silverwork. Only three men in the village still practise this silversmithing.
Rinchen has been making palang for three decades. A batch of ten pairs takes over a month to complete.
Rinchen Dorji said, “I learned this art from my father. It has been some time now since I started making palang for income. We receive orders through middlemen and deliver them to our customers’ doorsteps. They take the flasks to Thimphu. From here, we sell at the rate of Nu 2,800 to 3,000 for a pair.”
Almost every man in the community makes palang alongside farming.
The work, they say, is tedious and demands close attention at every stage. However, good income and growing demand keep them committed to the craft.
Ugyen Wangdi, an artisan, said, “If we can make it, there’s no problem selling it. We sell at a fair rate, allowing middlemen to make a profit too. The earnings from palang help us run our households.”
“We don’t have opportunities to travel elsewhere for labour or other jobs. I usually help palang makers with silverwork. It helps me with some income,” said Sonam Tenzin, the silversmith.
“Quality is our top priority. We use natural dyes and coatings, unlike the cheap ones that rely on ready-made paints. Lower-quality, mass-produced palangs are already in the market,” said Tshering Dorji, another artisan.
It is a lucrative craft, earning artisans an average annual profit of about Nu 100,000.
However, the growing demand for palang is putting pressure on Dongtshong Shing also also known as Dzomsa or Jomsa Shing.
Valued for its softness and durability, the tree is becoming scarce, raising concerns about the sustainability of the craft.
Tshering Dorji said, “Now that these trees are scarce locally, we have started planting them here. Once they mature, we harvest them to make palang. I planted these about two years ago, and they will take another three years to reach the right size.”
“If we continue at this rate, we will exhaust these trees. Almost everyone making palang here has planted Dongtshong Shing on their land. We’ve planted over 200 trees, ensuring future generations can continue this craft,” said Rinchen Dorji.
Tashi Tshering added, “The plants have started germinating from the wood that was brought from other villages. We’ve started growing them in our gardens. This will benefit us in the years ahead.”
As demand for palang continues to grow, so too does the responsibility to preserve the trees that make this centuries-old craft possible.
For the artisans of Sangkama, planting Dongtshong Shing is more than protecting a resource; it is safeguarding their livelihood and a tradition they hope to pass on to the next generation.
Namgay Wangchuk, Monggar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
