The annual local Tshechu at Toewang Gewog’s Nya-Lhakhang in Punakha has turned out to be a crowd-puller in recent years. As a growing number of people throng the festival, accommodating spectators has become a challenge for the Lhakhang. As a result, locals are requesting the concerned authority to extend the area.
The mask dancers have to adjust to perform on this small ground. The ground is situated at the roadside making it inconvenient for spectators to witness the festival comfortably.
Likewise, the business community has set up stalls along the roadside making it more inconvenient. Moreover, the vehicle parking space is congested posing risks for both motorists and spectators.
“The road that connects the two gewogs runs through the event area making it inconvenient. Moreover, the road that leads to the hot spring is also from the event area. With not enough space, the mask dances are performed at the same location making it overcrowded with spectators and vehicles. It is not at all convenient for the people to witness the mask dancers perform,” said Tshering Dorji, Tshechu Coordinator.
“The place is becoming crowded and chaotic with the festival and businesses in the same place. There is no place for the public to sit and watch the tshechu. It’s not possible to extend the event area as the area beyond falls on the state land. So, we would be grateful if the concerned authority could look into the matter,” said Drali, a resident of Tsephu-Khawakha.
“The ground is very small for the mask dancers to perform. Similarly, there is no proper space for the spectators to sit and watch the programme. People have to find a comfortable space, which is impossible to find as the area is small. As a result, we cannot witness the tshechu properly. And the ground that we have becomes congested when all gather to witness the festival,” said Pem, another resident.
The management group of the festival could not extend the area due to a lack of a budget and other environmental restriction issues.
“If we get funds in the future, we are planning to request the concerned authority and extend the area. But the problem is that we do not have a budget for it. I know we have many generous people making contributions. We would be grateful if we receive such contributions so that we can extend the place. We also plan to construct a guest pavilion house and make it into a comfortable place,” said Tshering Dorji, the Tshechu coordinator.
However, according to the Gewog administration, they hope to address the space-related problems by allocating a budget in the next five-year Plan.
“Firstly, we need to mobilise funds for this event as this is an annual event. Secondly, for the comfort of the spectators, we need a comfortable place and a spacious place to park the vehicles. Thus, we will try to achieve all these by allocating some budget in the 13th Five Year Plan,” said Ugyen Karma, Toewang Gup.
According to the residents, the annual festival has to be conducted near the Lhakhang as they believe the area is blessed by Lam Drukpa Kuenley.
Moreover, the locals believe that bad things will happen if they fail to conduct the festival in the area.
The annual one day-festival conducted in the second month of the Bhutanese calendar concluded on 6th April.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Sonam Pem
