Culture – Tshering Tobgay

Shopping for poi

July 13, 2012Culture, Economy1 Comment

Walk into a shopping mall, and you’ll be greeted by customers sampling various perfumes. Walk into the Norling Building in Changangkha, and you’ll also be greeted by customers sampling various perfumes. But there’s one big difference. The customers in the Norling Building, in Nado Poi shop to be exact, would be trying out different types of poi – traditional incense sticks for religious offerings. That, at least, is what I saw the other day. I went to Nado’s to buy some poi, and bumped into a group of Taiwanese tourists. They, like children in a sweetshop, were excitedly trying…

Wangduephodrang Dzong

June 25, 2012Culture, Monarchy36 Comments

I was in Wangduephodrang on Saturday. I’d gone there to visit the De-Suung training program. After meeting the De-Suups, I stopped by the Wangduephodrang Dzong to see the massive renovation that the dzong was receiving. While returning to Thimphu, I stopped briefly on the other side of Punatsangchhu to take in at the grandeur of the Wangdue Dzong, and, as usual, marveled at the brilliance of Zhadrung Ngawang Namgyel. He had chosen the site personally, on a ridge overlooking the confluence of the Punatsangchhu and Dangchhu rivers, to defend His newly unified Drukyul against intruders from the South. He…

Father and child

February 26, 2012Culture2 Comments

Two characteristics that all Bhutanese men should be proud of: knowing how to cook, and taking care of their children. I, like most Bhutanese men, like to cook. But my wife has made it quite clear that I’m more of a nuisance than a help in the kitchen, and my family only grudgingly accept what I cook. So my main responsibility at home revolves around taking care of our children. I enjoy that responsibility, and feel fortunate that I, like most Bhutanese men, can spend quality time with my children.
Today I looked for Bhutanese fathers with their children. And within minutes – literally minutes – I was able to capture these ‘father and child’ moments:

Lop Ugen Dorji, Kelki HSS, with Phakchung Dolma, 4 years, and baby Pema Yutsi on a walk

Kinzang Wangdi driving behind bikers Sangay Ngedup, 9 years, and Kinga Yeedzin Dema, 7

Happy Losar!

February 22, 2012Culture1 Comment

Art by Chimi R. Namgyal, a self-taught digital artist, who creates the most amazing 'paintings'. The printers were not able to do justice to Artist Chimi's work, so I'm still trying to get the job done, at another press, in a manner that will reflect the original quality. Please email me if you'd like a copy of this 'belated' Losar card. Meanwhile, I wish all my readers a very happy Losar!

Freeing horses

September 14, 2011Culture11 Comments

Several of you identified the image in the last “Big picture” as a horse. That is correct. Well done. But Passang’s answer was the most accurate. He said that the image was a “Picture of the horse (lungta) on a faded prayer flag.” The big picture is, quite literally, a painting of a horse on an old prayer flag. In fact, the prayer flag, with the lungta (or windhorse) printed in the middle, is clearly visible in the painting. To Karma Wangdi, the artist, that lungta, drawn within a square border, looked confined and trapped. So he set it…

Secrets of our leaders

August 14, 2011Culture8 Comments

In my last post, I invited you to think about what was causing a part of the Trongsa Dzong wall to be perpetually wet. “Andrea” and “YPenjor” put forward some good guesses. But, alas, modern cement is not to blame. It isn’t a hidden lake. And sub-terrain water seepage is not the cause. Nor is leakage from the rooftop. Or seepage from recent plumbing. The answer is history. Yes, history! No one could quite tell what was causing that particular part of the wall to stay wet throughout the year. And that wet patch would not be covered by…

The wall

August 12, 2011Culture6 Comments

The Trongsa Dzong has a wall that seems to be perpetually wet - any one know why?

Zhabdrung’s gifts

May 12, 2011Culture6 Comments

Here’s a story from Sombaykha to commemorate Zhabdrung Kuchoe: Topche was a nyagay – a strongman. About two hundred years ago, he left his village, Nakhikha in Sombaykha, to serve in Zhabdrung Jigme Drakpa’s court. In addition to being famous for his great physical strength, Boed Topche, as he was known, was also an exceptional swordsman. Legend has it that he would fight nonstop against the Zhabdrung’s enemies. And that at the end of each day, he would have to soak his hand in a bowl of hot water to dislodge the sword from his bloodied hand. At the…

Happy Losar

February 3, 2011Culture

Lopen Tshewang Tenzin, a lharip instructor at the National Institute for Zorig Chusum in Thimphu, tells the story behind the Thuenpa Puenshi: A golden era it was for the kingdom of Varanasi. The king, his prime minister and the people all claimed the credit. In the end, they sought the wisdom of the reclusive hermit. "The golden era has been brought about by the four friends in the forest," said the hermit. The bird, the rabbit, the monkey and the elephant had devoted their lives to propagating good deeds. The king and his entourage went into the forest to…

Happy Nyilo!

January 2, 2011Culture

Five friends - Tandin Bidha, Kinley Zangmo, Tandi Tshewang, Dawa Choden and Tandin Om - shower us with lolay blessings for peace, prosperity and happiness in the new year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_-Am-LjqXs

What’s in a title?

December 27, 2010Culture

Our last quiz asked a straightforward question: What does HPM stand for? Regardless of how you answered, it’s obvious that you knew the answer. But “dungsamkota” was the first person to register it. He answered: “HPM = Honorable Prime Minister.” And for good measure he added: “HOL = Honorable Opposition Leader”. Well done! Your answers were interesting … and thought provoking. Thank you for taking part. But one of you, “Dodo”, who answered “HPM: Hon’ble Prime Minister. Can this be used formally?” seems to have read my mind! Is HPM a formal title? In Bhutan, we respect our elders…

Answering Sonam

May 24, 2010Culture, Democracy

Sonam’s question generated a good deal of discussions. And, most of you argued that we, elected officials – ministers and MPs alike – should not wear our kabneys and patangs after completing our terms in office. Similarly, almost all of you who took the poll that asked, “Should elected MPs and ministers continue to wear their "kabneys" after their terms in office?” voted against the idea. A resounding 220 of you said “NO”; only 18 said “YES”. I agree with the majority. But should we, in fact, take it still further? Should we do away with colour-coded kabneys and…

Sonam’s question

May 3, 2010Culture

Last month, Sonam Ongmo, who blogs and tweets from New York, asked her readers: have a Q 4 Bhutanese. What happens to orange scarf 4 elected ministers after they leave office? This is a pertinent question. And we should discuss it. So send me your comments. And take the poll.

Druk Star gazing

April 15, 2010Culture16 Comments

We are divided on the question of Bhutan’s accession to the WTO. 40% of you answered “No” in the poll that asked “Should Bhutan Join the WTO?”, 37% replied “Yes”, and the rest said, “I’m still unsure”. I’ll give my views on this important matter soon. For now, we need to consider another important matter: Druk Star! After four months of music and entertainment, we are down to the final five contestants. One of them will be crowned Druk Star this Sunday. Our poll asks the burning question: who will be the next Druk Star?