Most of the major religious events are organised either in Dzongs or at religious centres. Elderly people living in rural areas cannot travel to attend such rituals due to transportation issues and health conditions. In Wangdue Phodrang’s Dangchhu Gewog, the gewog administration in collaboration with Dorling Goenzin Dratshang conducts rituals at the Gewog Centre enabling everyone in the locality to offer their prayers.
This is the third year the gewog administration and Dorling Goenzin Dratshang are conducting the rituals at the Gewog Centre.
This year, the Jabzhi Gyep ritual was performed for five days. In the past two years, Jana Chidoe and Droem Yudok were performed.
Elderly people in the gewog are happy with this initiative as they get to attend it without travelling to distant places.
Villagers from the nearby gewogs also came to attend the prayer ceremony.
Wangdi, a resident from Tokaling-Tomla Chiwog said“my feet are not very strong. Elderly people can attend the ritual with their walking stick as it is happening in our village. We cannot attend the rituals at Pangrizampa in Thimphu because of transportation problem. So, this has benefitted the elderly people.”
Tshewang Dem, a resident from Nyisho Gewog said “there is Jabzhi Gyep ritual and Baza Guru Dungdrup being held here. So, I came here to attend.”“We have transportation problem and as elders, we cannot travel to distant locations,” said Dorji Dem, a resident, Tashidingkha-Zimi Chiwog.
Nima, who is a resident of Dangchhu Gewog said “of course, rituals are being performed at Pangrizampa and other places. We cannot reach those places due to our health conditions. Moreover, transportation is a problem.”
Dangchhu is the only gewog in the district that conducts such rituals annually.
Phub Dorji, Dangchhu Gup said “villagers contribute butter, cheese, rice and vegetables for the ritual. From the gewog administration’s side, we do not ask or urge them for contributions.”
Yenten Gyeltshen, Principal of Dorling Goenzin Dratshang said “residents of Dangchu cannot afford to travel due to their work and transportation problems. So, we are organizing the event for them to accumulate merits and cleanse off the obstacles.”
The rituals are being performed to bring peace and prosperity in the world and for the long life of His Majesty The King, His Holiness the Je Khenpo and the members of the Royal Family.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Tshering Zam
