Heritage: The Mongar dzongkhag administration formally launched the renovation of more than 480 choetens with the installation of the Ku-Sung-Thukten (zungs) at Kedheykhar Choeten recently. The renovation is taken up to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

The dzongkhag administration has completed renovating almost 150 choetens in 17 gewogs and will complete the rest in the remaining two months. All choetens, which were destroyed in earthquakes, natural disasters and vandalised are being renovated.

Chasakhar gewog has the highest number of choetens being renovated with 63 of the total 65 stupas damaged. Chasakhar gup Pema Dorji said an equal number of choetens were destroyed by natural disasters and vandalised. As of now, more than 20 choetens have been renovated.

The dzongkhag administration has contributed money to install relics inside the choetens and where insufficient, they are collecting Nu 1,500 each from every household in the gewog.

In Ngatshang gewog, gup Phuntsho said that of the 34, 32 choetens need renovation. The gewog will start renovating them from today. For each choeten, the gewog administration has distributed Nu 2, 000 each and volunteers are renovating the stupas. The gewog administration has not collected money from the households.

Dzongkhag Culture Officer Sangay Tashi said by October 30, all gewogs would complete renovating their choetens. As proposed, the ministry has a grant of Nu1 million and Nu 2,000 was allotted for each choeten’s renovation.

The Lam Neten and Drangpon of Mongar with around 50 Kedekhar residents installed the “zung” with a prayer for the long life of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.

Tashi Phuntsho, Mongar