About 55 households of Peltari Chiwog under Kabisa Gewog in Punakha want a new Lhakhang as they do not have any in their chiwog. They say, without a Lhakhang, there is no proper place for religious rituals and other ceremonies. This was submitted in the 5th Dzongkhag Tshogdu meeting.
Kabisa Gup, Tshering Tobgay, said the chiwog is asking for an approval to construct a new Lhakhang in Peltari Chiwog.
“People are in dire need of a Lhakhang because people of are facing lots of problem when they have to perform religious rituals in the village. The other nearby villages like Uesarkha and Chhoeten Nyingpo do have Lhakhangs,” said Tshering Tobgay. However, both the Lhakhangs are located about 15 kilometers away from Petari chiwog.
The gup said the chiwog will built their Lhakhang without any support from the government if they get the approval. Though the proposal was supported by most of the members, the Dzongkhag Cultural Officer, Sangay Wangchuk, said it is not possible.
“According to the government policies, besides renovating Lhakhangs, we cannot give approvals for the construction of new Lhakhangs. People might take their own initiative to construct new Lhakhangs but later there will be no one to look after it.” Sangay Wangchuk says ultimately it is the government who will have to take care of the Lhakhang bearing extra expenses. “We are also asked not to approve construction of any new Lhakhangs by the home ministry”
The chiwog can built a Choekhang but that will be approved only after discussion in the 6th session of the Dzongkhag tshogdu.
