Kelzang Wangchuk

Nangkhar Dorjidhen is one of the remotest villages in Trashiyangtse. But every year it comes to life during the annual three-day tshechu.

Initially the tshechu was conducted with contributions from the local residents at the goenpa. The goenpa was  offered to dratshang in 2009 and since then the monastic school at the goenpa has been organising the tshechu.

The goenpa’s lam, Rinchen Drakpa procured all the equipment for tshechu which  was upgraded to a formal tshechu similar to those held in the dzongkhags.

“Without a dedicated budget from the government or gewog, it is difficult to conduct the tshechu but we cannot leave it because it was conducted since the goenpa was first established by Dupthop Thongmey Goenpo.”

The civil servants from the community heard about the problem in 2017 and came together to sponsor the annual tshechu since then.  They have contributed Nu 180,000.

One of the contributor and Jampelling centre school’s principal in Kanglung, Rinzin Dorji said that  they wanted people to continue to celebrate the local culture and reconnect with their families and community.

Lam Rinchen Drakpa said he is hoping the support would continue. Toedtsho gewog administration also gave Nu 66,000 from its religion and culture preservation budget.

Many elderly in the community said they never witnessed the Thimphu tshechu in their life. They thanked the Lam for bringing a tshechu of such grandeur to their gewog.

“We feel proud of the civil servants for sponsoring the annual tshechu since 2017,” Karma, a villager said.

The tshechu draws devotees from across the dzongkhag, and the neighbouring Indian town Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.

One of the pilgrims, Nima Drema from Itanagar, said they never heard about the tshechu before. “We are lucky to witness the precious and sacred tshechu,” she said. She said people were hospitable.

This year’s tshechu ended on December 7.

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