Neten Dorji

Sakteng, Trashigang—The Serdam Dechen Choling Lhakhang in Jonkhar Chiwog of Sakteng gewog is in urgent need of repair. 

The walls of the Lhakhang have cracked because of past earthquakes while planks and wooden pillars are damaged by insects.

Located about three kilometres from Jongkhar Primary School, the two-storey lhakhang caters to about  50 households in the chiwog. The lhakhang is more than 200 years old. It is a community temple shared by three villages. 

The temple is considered among the most important in Sakteng gewog.

Caretaker Tshering Norbu said that if the government doesn’t support the lhakhang’s renovation, people would not be able to do it on their own. “The lhakhang will fall apart. A proposal to renovate it was submitted several times.”

According to the caretaker, minor renovations were carried out, but the structure remains vulnerable. “The renovation was once carried out 10 years ago. The walls developed cracks due to the earthquake in 2011,” said Tshering Norbu.  “It might crumble anytime.”

A lay monk, Dorji Phuntsho, said that people fear going inside the lhakhang to offer daily prayers.

Jonkhar Tshogpa Tenzin Dorji said he raised the issue to the gewog and dzongkhag administration several times but nothing has happened until now. “Dzongkhag officials have inspected the lhakhang.”

Lay monks say that they cannot take the risk of the relics being damaged if the temple collapses. 

Tenzin Dorji said that when the chiwog and gewog proposed budget for the renovation of the lhakhang, it was rejected.

The lhakhang houses important relics, which include the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and Kangjur, among others. It is believed that the lhakhang was built by Lam Tshong Tshongma. 

Sakteng Gup Tshewang Tshering said the gewog administration was aware of the issue but was not able allocate budget for renovation due to financial rules.