hApPyGaLaX's pAgE

  Every adult’s wish   is to have a roof over their head after their retirement. Every couple plans for a decent home as their age catches up fast with them, but the question is when is the right time for getting things ready? Wangdi (name changed) has been a civil servant for last 20 years in various post and place. He knows that he is left with a decade or so to offer his service to his nation. He has been thinking and planning about a decent home for many years. Thanks to the banks in the nation, he availed a loan and purchased a plot of  land in one of the dzongkhag. With another loan from another bank, he and his wife struggled to construct a simple bungalow. It took him and his small family 5 months of sleepless night and struggled to complete the construction. When is the right time? Once completed, the family dreamt of happiness for years to come. But things did not turn up as expected. Few months into their new home, Wangdi was transferred to another dzongk...

 Kyetse is one of Chador Wangmo’s mind-boggling novels. She is one of the few fulltime Bhutanese writers. She was a teacher but surrendered her career to her passion- writing. Today she is a mother of two kids and runs Miza Books, a bookstore for writers and readers to come together. Chador Wangmo is from an eastern hamlet in Tashigang. Her root is vividly curved in her novels portraying what really sharchops are. The novel was published by Miza Books in 2016. The book takes you to the heart of Brekha, a small hamlet in Tashigang. Although the readers are taken out to Nepal, we are brought back to Bhutan and are taken to Paro to end the story. The author, a true daughter from the east has chosen the rustic, yet humble and pure easterners. The protagonist, Sonam Dema is an inquisitive girl of eight years old who, as the Kyetse prophesized, was sent to become a nun with an elderly nun who was a complete stranger to her. Sonam Dema and four other girls from Bhutan are taken far away ...

Guru Rimpoche was invited to Bumthang to cure the local king, Sindha Raja from his death bed, in the 7th century. Guru Rimpoche, the "Precious Teacher" entered the country from the south and believed to have journeyed from Trongsa to Bumthang. Arriving at Bumthang, the precious teacher meditated in a cave (above the present Bumthang hospital) for three days. During the duration, it is believed that the khandrom brewed ara (Local alcohol) on a rock facing the cave across the river. The khandoms then offered the ara to Guru as an offering. The religious site directly faces the meditation cave and the Chokhor chorten, where Guru has taught Buddhism for the first time in Bumthang. The ara zang. The place today, is under RNR research office and fenced. However, people can still access the site. The site is just above the domestic airport in Bumthang. Taking the road towards Tamshing from Chamkhar town, enter the RNR gate near the airport. Stop the car at the first turn a...

The pandemic has brought the tourism across the world to an abrupt stop. No country could risk the nation’s health with tourism. Bhutan like any other nation isn’t immune to the pandemic. The country’s second highest revenue earner, tourism came to stand still with no predicted time to come back. The pandemic provided the most wanted boast for the local tourism to grow. The local tourism has also helped heal the ailing economy. With people wanting to be away from others, the frequently visited religious sites are seeing not many visitors. On the other hand, far flung religious sites and more so the lakes (Tsho) are welcoming an ever increasing visitors, some genuine while others for the sake to refresh. While it may be religiously and culturally encouraging to make offering in the lakes, the long-term impact can be questioned. With many people throwing coins and paper money into the lake as offering, we are doing more harm than to please the mermaid. The people offering money in t...

Education is the right of every person on the planet and every learner deserves the best it. Although quality cannot be comprised at any level, the primary level merits the maximum attention. Bharti and Bhattacharya (2014) states that “Primary education is the first stage of compulsory education which is been considered as the most crucial in a child’s education and social development” (para. 1). Primary education is the base for other levels. If a child is left out without quality primary education, coping up at higher levels would be an uphill journey. Michaelowa (2007) found out that: The quality of primary education is going to have direct coherence to the other levels learning. The quality provided at the primary level shall have impact on higher levels. This implies that a country with low levels of secondary or even primary completion will have a considerably reduced pool of students available for higher education. (para.2) Having served in two levels of schools, it is eviden...

 Luck is what we think we deserve to have every time but it is otherwise. People seek interference of seen and unseen forces in hope to have the tinniest fraction of luck. Luck, in laymen term can be defined as absence of bad things happening. according to Chophel (2018),  Kharam means ‘together,’ reflective of the event’s communal nature. It is believed to have evolved from a Bön ritual, and includes a particular wooden structure marked by a phallus. The lucky phallus (Image:Google) In Bhutan, there is a special way to drive away evil and bring luck; having a kharam shing around. It is a phallus craved from wood. The size and the wrathfulness can vary from place to place. Sometimes it is painted on the walls of the homes. The idea may be taboo for the west but it serves a purpose here. According to Kinga. (2005, p.157), kharam shing offsets evil influences and empowers people. It is a common sight to see traditional houses decorated with the kharam . The culture is more e...

 Since the nation has been put under complete lockdown on 11th August, it is the 10th day today. With some places declared red zone, people have experienced an unusual life. Lockdown is a new experience for nation of ours whose great wall of volunteers and the plans kept the virus at bay until 11th August.  People knew it was coming, yet we never were prepared for it. The situation has changed everything we do and think. Now, I love to hate the virus and the situation The first few days of the lockdown has been challenging having to switch and customize the regular schedule but the lockdown has also provided time to reflect on myself and life at large. Life is a race, and if one fails to cope with the pace, you are left behind. And part taking in the race, I have forgotten to look at and admire the small things in life. I have never thought of looking out of the window and enjoying the little animals going on with their daily rituals undisturbed by the pandemic.  The lock...

 With the detection of COVID-19 in a woman in Gelephu on early morning of August 11, the nation was put under lock down on the same morning. Since then the government under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister, has taken up rigorous activities all for the benefit of the people and more so, for the crowded places of Thimphu and Phuntsholing. The lock down has been a very unique one, indeed one of it's kind in the world. The most advanced countries could not control their citizens during the lock down but it has been otherwise in Bhutan. It is the eighth day of the lock down, and people adhered to the directives of the government.  The central and the local government in partnership with volunteers are trying out everything to provide the essential items at the door step. There were few glitches due to the overwhelming response from the people, yet the government did the best they can and they have promised to improve the delivery. Apart form the essential items, the gov...

Recently, the government has announced that influenza vaccine will be made available for every Bhutanese by the end of this year (2020). This has come as one of greatest news for the people in this modern time when new diseases emerge every other year. The world, it seems, will succumb to the new diseases if measures are not put in. "After receiving Royal command, we are considering flu vaccine for everyone from next year onward. Because ordinary flu will complicate or mix with other flu-like symptoms like in the present case, it is COVID-19. That is why the Health Ministry is working towards providing the service from next year," said Dr Lotay Tshering, the Prime Minister during the a Meet the press in April- BBS This is aimed to eradicate or if not reduce the number of people getting infected by influenza. On the other hand many diseases have similar symptoms like the influenza and recently COVID-19 symptoms has been best example of this. A vaccine to save the Bhut...

His Majesty the king at flood site. A sparse part of the society  slander us for our uncertificated ingress. Yet we are not dissuaded by the dubiety. I shall strive to be the greatest buttress,  a trust for all and loyal to my king and praises for my nation i shall sing. It was a customary monsoon day for me and you alike. Soldier i am, they say, a man with intellectual knife-like, a human with a iron heart willing to serve my nation at a dart. With unwavering circadian obedience,  I perform my duty unrevealed. Any call is far from my disobedience, even if my life, before me, keeled. Uncertain of my homecoming  my little ones, my wife, was calming. As I stand beside the furious Mao river I see fear crawling fast in those fellow citizen. Did anyone see in them, the shiver? This, the situation, it was unwritten but there is scarcity of time   to love the life of mine Braving the unappeasable curr...

Dogs were and are men's best friend. They have played vital roles in our lives including their service during the wars and rehabilitation and more so as a companion. According to Wayne, 2008, dogs were domesticated between 18, 800 and 32,100 years ago. He believes that it took place in Europe or western Serbia. Since then dogs have played a pivotal part in human life. It has become the cutest and the friendliest pet humans can ever have. Although Bhutanese are not very fond of keeping intimate pets like westerners, we also cant think of harming them. As Buddhist, we feed them though they are not our pet. People feed stray dogs and in return the dogs just lingers around. There is a dzongkha proverb which says, "If you want to give alms, give to the dogs, for they do not eat grass" (Roughly translated) But, lately, dogs are going back to where they came from. They are in transition in becoming wild animals again and nearing their close cousins in the wild. Packs of dogs ...

The Guru's cave Bhutan was blessed by many great Buddhist masters and Guru Rinpoche was the greatest and the first master to have visited Bhutan in the 7th century. The worldly pleasure History has it that Guru visited Bhutan for the first time, as invited by the local king of Bumthang, Sindha Gyalp (Sindhu Raja). According to the records, Guru Rinpoche came from Nepal to Tibet and then to Bhutan. However Mr. Tenzin (Son of Chakar Lam), from Chakar lhakhang in Bumthang believes that Guru Rinpoche was already in Bhutan when Sindhu Raja sent his two ministers to Nepal to invite Guru to cure him. The king sent 7 Dreys (1 drey equal appropriately 1.5kg) of Gold powders as offering. When the ministers reached the present Reotala, they met a monk meditating in a cave. The monk asked where they were heading, to which they shared that they were on their way to invite Guru Rinpoche from Nepal. The monk then insisted them to show the gift that they were carrying, but to their surpr...

Lhakhang with Choekhortoe School  in the background.  Zhabjethang Lhakhang is located about 21 kilometres away from Chamkhar town towards the north of Bumthang. It is connected by farm road from Gewog office near Kurjey Lhakhang. The two storied lhakhang is nestled among the houses of Zhabjethang village under Choekhortoe Chiwog which is under Choekhor Gewog, and is just few meters from the road. Zhabje of Guru Rinpoche (right)  and Khandro (left) There is no detailed written history about the lhakhang but the place and the temple is accorded with rich oral history which can be authenticated by any layperson by visiting the lhakhang. According to the elders of the village and the caretaker, Guru Rinpoche visited the place and blessed it. Although no exact date and year can be confirmed, one can relate this to the visit of Guru Rinpoche between 7th and 8th century. The FIVE kings Tertons As it suggests, the Lhakhang got its name from the main relic, the cl...

Dorji Goenpa is about 20 kilometers towards Bumthang from Trongsa. It is located just few meters above the Trongsa-Bumthang PNH. The actual name of the Goenpa was Dhozhom Goenpa. Dho means rock and Zhom is a tub. There was a bathing tub of Menmo (deity) of the Lhakhang which was carved out of a solid rock. It is believed to accommodate about 10 people. Sadly, according to the caretaker, the tub was destroyed during the highway widening. The Goenpa was established in the 19 th century by Lopen Tsheltrum Tharchin who was a learned Buddhist monk. He meditated at the place revering Drakmar and also left a Zhabje (Footprint) on a rock about 100 meters above the Lhakhang. Lopen was from Tsangkha under Trongsa Dzongkhag. The two storied Lhakhang has Yoepadma at the center with Guru Rinpoche at the right and Tsepamed and Zhabdrung, on the first floor while the ground floor is used as store. The Tsepamey and Zhbdrung statues are said to have spoken, so are revered and tr...

Chogyal Drimed Kuenden was an Indian prince, who later became a great dharma king. After giving away the most valued wealth of his nation, his father sent him and his family to exile for 12 years to “Dhuring Harshang KemKem” or “Kemkem Rig’. The place is also known as ‘Harshang Rinag’ which is about three days walk from the village although no one can pinpoint the exact location. The Beautiful Tokjoung Lhakhang As the prince and his family journeyed towards the north of his kingdom, which is Bhutan, he crossed many villages and one of the last village on his journey was the Dzongthang village which is pronounced more as Jongthang. According to oral history, there are two great plains about three hours walk from the village where the national animal of our country, takin, freely graze. Takin is called as “Droo Gyem Tse” in dzongkha, thus place came to be called as Drongthang. Dro is the takin and thang in dzongkha means plain. As time passed, the pronunciation has become to Dzon...