Rural-urban migration is creating more than economic challenges in Bumthang’s Ura chiwog. Due to declining population, the community is struggling to keep alive its centuries-old tradition of Ura Yakchoe. The vibrant four-day annual festival honouring Guru Padmasambhava is among some of the top tourist attracting festivals in the country.
The sounds of drums and cymbals echo through Ura valley, as locals gather at the community Lhakhang for Ura Yakchoe. The festival which begins on the 12th day of the third Bhutanese lunar month annually features sacred mask dances and traditional folk performances.
Believed to have been introduced some 1500 years ago, the festival is considered one of the most sacred in Bumthang, attracting both locals and international tourists.
But with fewer people remaining in the village, locals worry the festival may lose its essence in the future.
Today, only a handful of active locals take part in the performances, while most of those watching are elderly people, women, and children.
With around 60 households, Ura chiwog has an estimated total population of over 1200. But today, only a little over half still live in the village.
Karma Ugyen, a resident said, “Now, the declining population in the village has become a concern for us. While each one of us takes responsibility for performing folk dances, mask dances, and other rituals, the courtyard remains almost empty without spectators.
Despite the challenge, organisers are continuing efforts to keep the festival vibrant and attract visitors. They take time to explain the spiritual and cultural significance of the event to visitors.
Karma Phuntsho (PhD) from Ura said “This is a silver statue of Buddha Vajrapani. It is believed to be connected to the subterranean world of serpents, or Nagas. Leprosy was believed to be a disease spread by the Nagas. Vajrapani, manifested in the form of this statue, was believed to be the antidote to control the epidemic spread by the Nagas.”
Every year, about 500 international tourists attend the festival, making it one of the region’s most culturally significant events
A resident said, “According to the Department of Tourism, Ura Yakchoe is considered one of the top five tourist-attracting festivals.”
Similarly, Tshewang Tashi, another resident said, “Bringing tourists to the festival is a tradition established long ago with the dates of our tshechu being communicated with them. Their visit benefits us greatly.”
The festival concludes with the unfurling of the Dechen Zhingdup Thongdrel and the public receiving blessings from the sacred Vajrapani relic.
Hundreds, including locals and visitors from nearby communities, gather each year to receive blessings.
Festivals like Ura Yakchoe is not just about spiritual gathering, but also a reminder of the importance of keeping the country’s living traditions alive.
Thinley Dorji, Bumthang
