Never has Samtse town been so full of life and colour.

There is excitement and sense of nervousness in the air. As the home of the 111thNational Day, Samtse is decked out to specialness that is big in every sense. The number of people and vehicles on the streets is overwhelming.

This is the fourth time Samtse is hosting the National Day. The first one was in 1981. The dzongkhag hosted the National Day again in 1991 and 2002. But this year is going to be bigger than any have seen yet and special in many ways.

People from all parts of the dzongkhags have gathered in the town. The villages in the dzongkhags are almost empty. Vehicles big and small are busy ferrying people around.

The people of Samtse say that they are very fortunate. They are. His Majesty The King, His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, His Royal Highness the Gyalsey and members of the Royal Family will celebrate the most important day in the life of our nation with the people of Samtse. Also present to celebrate the national day with the people of Samtse and near-by dzongkhags will be His Holiness the Je Khenpo.

This is unique and that’s why the people of Samtse consider themselves doubly lucky this year. Young and old all, the people are deeply moved by the rarity and the specialness of the day in their lives and interpret the significance of the day in ways myriad and lyrical.

Also unique about the 111th National Day will be choppers carrying the national flag and dropping Tsampaka flowers to the celebration ground.

The celebration of the national day means to by much more than just occasional cheer and merriment. We look back this day on our achievements as a nation and forge ahead with common dreams and renewed determination to higher elevations and greater distances. The celebration of the national day reminds us of our responsibility to the nation each individually as a citizen.