In line with the health protocol amid the pandemic, ‘Ap Chundu Soelkha’- an annual event in Haa is marked with a handful of devotees, this year. According to the culture officer of Haa, only 20 per cent of the usual participants were allowed to avoid gatherings.
Moreover, only a few were allowed to receive the entourage along the way. Normally the whole village comes to receive blessing and offer prayers from the Ap Chundu entourage.
The entourage today started from Lhakhang Karpo, the residence of the local deity at 5 am. The entourage takes over four hours covering some 10 kilometres. The main event, the offering is held at Jankakha at the upper valley of Haa. Earlier a yak is sacrificed to the deity, this, however, was abolished since 2016.
Namgay Wangchuk
