The Thimphu Lhamoi Domchoe is an annual tradition for the capital’s residents, drawing thousands of devotees each year. Today, once again, crowds dressed in their finest attire gathered at the courtyard of Trashichhodzong to witness the sacred Lhamoi Tshomi Kuncham, including around 600 tourists.
The Dorji Lopen of the Central Monastic Body presided over the Domchoe.
The highlight is Lhamoi Tshomi Kuncham, which dates back to 1707 and was instituted by Je Kuenga Gyaltshen, the first reincarnation of Jampel Dorji, son of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
Dedicated to Pelden Lhamo, the protecting deity of Bhutan, the sacred dance is believed to bless and purify misfortunes and negative deeds for an entire year.
Vice Principal of Dodeydra Buddhist Institute, Pema Namgyel said, “The monks wake up around 9 pm and have been conducting the Lhawang Drupchhoe for about 15 days. The Kuncham is an expression of divine generosity and compassionate blessings. The sacred Lhamoi Tshomi mask is kept inside the kilkhor and revealed to the public only after the prayers.”
Throughout the day, monks from the Central Monastic Body and artists from the Traditional Performing Arts and Music Division performed sacred mask dances and songs, attracting hundreds of tourists.
Ticketing records from the Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development show that more than 470 international and 100 regional tourists attended this year’s Domchoe.
Among them was Greg Bernstein from the United States, a computer systems professional at the global media company Reuters. Greg arrived yesterday and plans to trek the Snowman Trail. It is his first visit to Bhutan.
Greg Bernstein said, “I am in Bhutan to exchange culture and to learn more about the Bhutanese people and their culture and their religions and to see the countryside. I am extremely fascinated by the way people live and the things that we do here. This example of a festival has been amazing to see with the masks and the clowns. I have loved every minute of it.”
Another visitor, Torben Buhl from Denmark, said attending the Domchoe was an unexpected highlight of his journey.
Torben Buhl said, “We are here to do the second part of the snowman trek, and we were so lucky to have the chance to go and see the festival here. And the festival here has been very, very entertaining for us and very interesting.”
This year marks 318 years since Bhutan began observing the Lhamoi Domchoe, one of the country’s most significant annual religious events. The Domchoe will be followed next week by the three-day Thimphu Tshechu.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Sangay Chezom
