The Dorji Lopon and the monks of the Central Monastic Body left Thimphu for their winter residence in Punakha yesterday.

In keeping with tradition, the Central Monastic Body will reside for the next six months in Pungthang Dewa Chhenpoi Phodrang. They will return to Thimphu on the first day of the fourth Bhutanese month. Thousands of residents along the Thimphu-Punakha highway received blessings from the Zhabdrung’s sacred relics. 

The tradition of migrating between summer and winter residences was first introduced by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in the 17th century.