Prize distribution to be held today at the clock tower square.

Celebration: The 5th Indo-Bhutan friendship car rally, which started from Siliguri on February 3 arrived at the clock tower square, Thimphu yesterday completing the 870 kilometer race.

The three-day rally saw a total of 18 cars participating including a female team from Kolkota. But the winners will be announced only today. The Secretary General of Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association and the chief organiser of the rally, Jay P Majumdar, said that except for two new participants, the rally saw the same previous contestants this year. Almost 70 percent of the participants were from north and south India.

This year the rally didn’t see a single Bhutanese participant. Bhutanese officials present at the event said that since the announcement for the rally was done quite late, interested individuals could not get enough time for preparation. Jay P Majumdar said the rally was supposed to take place in December last year but because of some unavoidable circumstances it got postponed. “However, the event was a big success. No injuries were recorded during the rally,” he said.

The prizes will be awarded at 3pm today at the clock tower square. The winner will be given a trophy and a cash price of Nu  100,000. The organiser said that those who stood 6th and below will be entitled for cash prizes.

The first Indo-Bhutan friendship car rally began in 2007. Since then the event is organised after every two years to celebrate the friendship the two country share. This year the event was organised to commemorate the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

By Younten Tshedup

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