The countdown has begun for the Tragopan Festival in Trashigang, where communities are preparing to showcase and sell their locally produced goods. The festival, named after colourful tragopan pheasant, will be held over three days at the end of this month, celebrating both local culture and the region’s rich biodiversity.
In Pasaphu-Peydung Chiwog of Kangpar Gewog, villagers are trying their hands at weaving bamboo into baskets, bangchung and other traditional products as they prepare for the festival.
This time, they do not have to travel far to find buyers. The upcoming festival will bring the market closer to their doorstep.
Sonam Chogyal, a member said, “After hearing about the Tragopan Festival in Khaling, we started weaving products. This time, we don’t have to travel far to sell our products. Last year, we went to Sheytimi in Merak and Thimphu to sell our products, and earned a good income for our group.”
Similarly, a group of women in Drupkhang village in Lumang Gewog are preparing to showcase their unique nettle products.
Some women are spinning yarn from nettle fibres before weaving them into rachus and handbags while others have already woven different types of textiles.
Another group is carefully adorning designs of tragopan and other species found in the area on the finished products.
Yangchen Lhamo, a group member said, “Our nettle products are not very popular. The upcoming festival will give us a platform to showcase our nettle products. I heard even the guests from abroad will visit so, more people will get to know about our products. This will help us sell them and earn income.”
Youth are also joining the preparations. In Riserbu, Ugyen Phuntsho is busy baking cookies and packing them for the festival.
“So far, I have been making cookies using maize, buckwheat, and wheat flour. Recently, I have also started making cookies from sweet potato and cassava. For the festival, I am preparing five types of local products.”
Kharungla, located between Wamrong and Khaling, is home to more than 250 species of birds and the only place in Bhutan where all three species of tragopan can be spotted.
Beyond birds, Kharungla is also home to Bhutan’s national butterfly and several endangered animal species.
With financial support from the Department of Tourism, Wamrong Dungkhag is organising the festival to promote nature, community and biodiversity-based tourism, in line with the government’s policy to promote tourism in eastern Bhutan.
As communities prepare their products and performances, the Tragopan Festival is expected to create new opportunities for local artisans, farmers, and youth while celebrating the rich biodiversity of the Khaling–Wamrong landscape.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
