Zhemgang is known for its rich biodiversity, traditional folk songs and dances, pilgrimage sites, and matted bamboo bowls or baangchungs. It is lesser known for the tradition of Jaling or the traditional ritual trumpet making business. But this outlook is being changed by a man, whose art of making Jaling is gaining prominence in the district.
Hailing from Buli in Nangkor Gewog, Thorchungla (66), is the lone Jaling maker in the district.
During the time of the filming, he was skillfully carving a piece of wood, which takes an hour to finish. This process is an integral part of creating a Jaling as it will act as a flute to generate spiritual sound.
Thorchungla has been making Jaling for the last 40 years. He learned this art from his late Uncle, who was a Jaling teacher at Nimalung Dratshang in Bumthang.
Today, he is receiving orders from different parts of the country.
“Initially, I started making two Jalings for the two Lhakhangs in the district. After that, I received orders from Upper Kheng, Bumthang, Thimphu, and Punakha. I also get orders from some faraway places. So far, I might have sold 500 pairs of Jalings,” shared Thorchungla.
The design of his Jaling is the same as melodist Jaling called Jangchub Wangmo of the Nimalung Dratshang. This sets his products apart from the imported Jalings.
“If we don’t use wooden material in the interior part of the Jaling, it will not produce a spiritually melodious sound. Those bought from India cannot produce a sound like this. They are all fabricated with the metals and don’t bear any religious significance,” explained Thorchungla.
However, he says sustaining this business is challenging at times since the foresters do not easily grant pass on cypress wood timber.
He also worries that the art might disappear in future as youth seem disinterested in it.
Otherwise, his business is doing well.
“The income that I generate from this business is spent for my children’s educational expenses and also covers household expenses. So far so good is what I can say about my Jaling business,” he added.
Thorchungla sells a pair of Jaling at Nu 8,000. On average, he sells two to three pairs of Jaling in a month.
That aside, he takes repairing orders of Jaling and charges about Nu 1,800 for a pair of Jaling.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Pema Lhaden
