It is the season of festivals. People would be in their best attire witnessing Tshechu and Drubchhens in the Dzongs if not for the pandemic. But in Wangdue Phodrang, the district administration is taking the Tshechu to its residents. The three-day Tshechu was broadcast LIVE on the two local channels. The residents were happy that they could witness the sacred Tshechu from the comfort of their own homes.
Sitting comfortably on a sofa with prayer beads in his hands and a hot tea on the table, 68-year-old Rinchen Khandu witnessed the sacred mask dances on his television (TV) set. He has been glued to the TV set watching the LIVE broadcast of the recent three-day Tshechu every day. He said it is the same whether you witness the Tshechu on TV or in the Dzong as long as the person is devoted.
“I am extremely happy and enjoy watching Tshechu on TV without having to go anywhere. I would like to thank the Dzongkhag for arranging this amid the pandemic. I did not find any difference between watching the Tshechu in person and on TV. It all depends on our beliefs. Actually, it is more convenient to watch from home,” he said.
A private firm covered the three-day annual Tshechu of Wangdue Phodrang from the Rabdhey’s courtyard above the Dzong.
According to Wangdue Dzongda Sonam Jamtsho, people in the district have expressed their interest to witness the Tshechu. Moreover, he said people have been living with restrictions for two years due to the pandemic. “Therefore, we came up with a solution and offered our services by broadcasting the programmes LIVE on local TV channels where people can watch at their respective homes.”
“When we see exploring such opportunity in the local level, I feel it shows about the improving of digitalization in the country. Likewise, our people need not have to suffer when we have live coverage. It will also cut down on their expenses,” said Sangay Penjor, the Tshogpa of Rinchengang Toed Chiwog under Thedtsho Gewog.
Like Rinchen Khandu, residents of Wangdue Phodrang are happy with this service. They said they haven’t missed even a single programme of the Tshechu broadcast on the local channels.
However, not all people of the dzongkhag are lucky. Some in the remote gewogs could not seize this opportunity as the local TV channels do not cater to their gewogs. They say such services should be provided equally to the public in the future.
“We could not get the cable television services so far in our locations. So, it would be helpful if the Gewog Administration, Dzongkhag and the government could come up with plans to provide the services equally so that our people can also watch such important programmes in the future,” said Wangdi, the Kazhi Gup.
“We need to explore and plan separately to provide such live coverage to all fifteen Gewogs including Bajothrom next year if the pandemic situation remains the same. So, the dzongkhag administration is planning to provide equal opportunity by anyhow next year,” the Dzongda added.
Meanwhile, unlike last year, all mask dances by the monks and laymen, including Dolung Raksha Chham, were performed after consulting with the National COVID-19 Task Force. and all the artistes performing in the Tshechu were in self-containment from the time of practising for safety amid the risk of COVID-19. The festival was held as a closed-door event.
There are more than 1,300 subscribers to the two local channels in Wangdue Phodrang.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sonam
