Khoma in Lhuentse is known for producing the intricately patterned silk textile, Kishuthara. But without a proper showroom in the village, the weavers have to take their prized products to the prospective buyers. For such a culturally rich and expensive product, it was not befitting to not have a showroom. It gets even worse when visitors in the village find themselves surrounded by womenfolk forcing them to buy, just like at a roadside market. To address this, the Lhuentse Dzongkhag is planning to build a showroom in the village.
Back in 2017, the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary built a two-storeyed structure in Khoma to be used as a showroom. However, since the structure is more than half a kilometre from the village, residents did not make use of it.
As a result, it was converted into a station office for the wildlife sanctuary.
Today, the district administration plans to build the showroom in the village, accessible to all the residents. It will be built on a ten-decimal land.
According to the Lhuentse Dzongda, a three-storeyed structure will be constructed, which will not only serve as a showroom for Kishuthara and other woven items but also as a weaving centre. The structure will also have a conference hall, a tailoring centre, and a cafeteria.
However, starting from the design approval to funding, the district administration is yet to get approvals. The development plan is not included even in the 12th five-year plan.
“We are hoping that the Queen’s Project Office will fund the plan but it is yet to be confirmed. We have not even approached the office because currently, we are at a stage where we do not know the exact amount needed for the construction of the building,” said Lhuentse Dzongda Jampel Wangchuk.
Whatever the administrative progress, the residents are looking forward to having a showroom in their village. The good news came at a time when marketing was made impossible owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a result, most people were unable to sell their Kishuthara products, resulting in huge losses.
“I have a total of Nu 800,000 worth of Kishuthara, of which I have three still here and have sent five to Thimphu. I have three to four hundred thousand worth of table cloths that I have been unable to sell,” said Pema Dechen, from Khoma.
“We used to earn by selling shawls to foreign tourists, but owing to the global pandemic, we now weave Kishuthara and Gho whenever there is a demand,” added Nidup Zangmo, also from Khoma.
The wonder from the loom doesn’t stop with Kishuthara, they also weave silk gho, far more expensive than Kishuthara. A woman who has woven a Sesho Gho Dom Chu Chem, valued at Nu 160,000 recently is wondering how to sell it. But without a market, they can only wait and hope for the showroom plan to materialise.
Dorji Gyeltshen, Lhuentse
Edited by Sonam
