If everything works according to plan, spectators visiting the Paro tshechu will have a comfortable venue to enjoy the festival from next year. The tshechu draws a huge crowd annually as one of the most popular festivals in the country. The venue at Deyangkha becomes overcrowded, raising the need for expansion. At the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu, the district’s culture office informed the meeting that they now have a green signal from the culture department to expand the venue.
The occasion is meant to bring together families to bond over a sumptuous meal while enjoying the cultural performances, seated in a comfortable place around the venue.
But the scenes from the recent tshechu tell a different story, with the ground becoming overcrowded, especially during the last two days of the five-day festival.
The crowd became overwhelming for the security personnel during the final day as devotees rushed to receive blessings from the sacred Guru Thongdrel.
The local leaders raised the issue multiple times in the Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
Lungnyi Gup Jamtsho said, “Paro Tshechu is one of the oldest tsechus in the country. Therefore, every year, we receive thousands of tourists and spectators, but there is no proper place to sit and enjoy the cultural performances. Our people have always expressed the same inconveniences, and suggest that we develop galleries where people can sit and enjoy the festival comfortably.”
Dokar Gup Kinley Penjor said, “Since the second local government’s term, when I was serving as the mangmi, this issue was deliberated time and again. However, to materialise it, we needed a budget and approval from the culture department. We were unable to proceed with the plan. We have enough land around the tshechu venue for expansion if we can develop the area with proper planning.”
Local leaders informed the Dzongkha Tshogdu that they were not allowed to expand the ground by the culture department, as the venue is surrounded by sacred sites and rocks.
The local government had once allocated a budget as well for the cause, but was unable to carry out expansion works as they could not obtain approval from the Department of Culture.
However, things might change. The culture department has asked the district to submit a detailed plan for expansion.
“Following repeated appeals from the local government, I have put up the matter to the Department of Culture. I have personally experienced overcrowding here and requested the department to thoroughly look into the matter. For that, we finally received an order asking us to submit a model and detailed plan to the culture department for the expansion of the venue,” said Riki, the district culture officer.
The district culture office is confident that the plan will come through.
If so, by next tshechu, spectators will have a better venue with the district expecting to complete the expansion works before the next tshechu commences.
Namgyel Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Phub Gyem
