Amid the ongoing international trade fair in Bumthang, a single stall is stealing the spotlight. It is not the food, furniture, or handicrafts, but the lone bookseller. It has become a rare treat for local youth in a district where dedicated bookstores are hard to find. The fair has 79 stalls that feature goods from Bhutan, India, and Nepal.
10-year-old Rehan Karma Gurung, a class four student, is one of the most excited visitors at the fair. This is his first time at such an event. He is happy to find what he is looking for, anime books, which are very rare in Bumthang. He bought two.
He said, “Sometimes my friends share their books with me, and that’s how I developed the hobby of reading. I recently read The Greedy Goose, which is a moral story. Today, I’m buying Solo Levelling and Naruto, and I’m really excited to read them in my free time. When I don’t have new books to read, I watch animated characters on television.”
A few handicrafts shops sell some locally authored books, but mostly for tourists.
Sangay Tenzin, a resident said, “Even if we are interested in reading, there are not many books available in Bumthang. Stalls like this give us the chance to explore more. We all know that reading makes a person intelligent and wise.”
“I have a unique collection of books, including children’s books, novels, short stories, and motivational titles. I knew there would be fewer readers here compared to Thimphu, but I’m happy to see a good number of book lovers in Bumthang as well,” said Harindar Goswami, a trader from India.
This is the first such event in Bumthang in over a decade.
“While we organised a similar fair in Paro and shared its highlights on social media, people asked us to organise one in the east as well. Some regular participants also go live on TikTok during such fairs, and through those streams, many suggested holding similar events in other districts. That is why we came here,” said Chenga Wangmo, Street Events, the organiser.
“We don’t get many customers in the first few days of the fair, but it usually improves towards the end. It is the same in Thimphu, Wangdue, and Paro. For one stall, we have to pay Nu 35,000. Since I booked two stalls, I had to pay 70,000, so I’m worried if I can recover the cost,” said Ugyen Dema, a trader from Thimphu.
Another trader from Thimphu, Tshering said, “Business is better in Thimphu because of the larger population. Here, it’s not too bad, but not as good as we expected. We are hoping the weekends will be better.”
Nima, a resident of Bumthang, said, “These fairs are very beneficial because we can find everything we need in one place. Otherwise, we have to go from shop to shop, and sometimes even travel to Phuentsholing. When the market comes to our doorstep like this, it is equally important for us to take part.”
As the fair wraps up tomorrow, organisers are already planning to take it further east, bringing the market closer to communities in the far-flung villages.
Namgyel Wangchuk, Bumthang
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
