As the year of the Monkey gave us His Royal Highness The Gyalsey, ensuring the continuity of the Wangchuck Dynasty, the bird will see the birth of more boys.

The Fire Female Bird is considered an auspicious year to give birth to children since the Mewa or constellation is Chigkar. Mewa is an astrological term denoting the relative positions of the stars.

Hence, children born this year under the Mewa Chigkar will have high moral standards. Although the bird year is female, more boys are expected to be born. This is what the datho (astrological calendar) says.

In general, the rooster year is not so favourable, according to astrologer Lopon Kinzang Tobgye of the Pangrizampa college of astrology in Thimphu. He said that the rooster year will see major fire incidents in the country as the year’s element is fire. There will also be untimely rainfall, which may lead to poor crop yields and livestock production.

To avert disasters from fire and drought, Kinzang Tobgye recommends that offerings to deities of the four natural elements, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung besides conducting other rituals such as jana chidoe.

The astrologer said that this year people will experience less peace, happiness and prosperity.

The Fire Female Rooster year is inauspicious for people born in the Rooster year (ages 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73 and 85) as well as children born this year. People born in the Rooster year are advised to avoid long journeys, visits to construction sites, scenes of violence, baby showers, cremations and marriage parties.

People born in the year of the Ox and Snake are compatible (Thuensum) with Rooster, and thus, the year is inauspicious for them all. They should avoid visiting and soaking in hot springs and herbal baths. Likewise, those born in the year of Rabbit are not compatible (Duenzur) with Rooster and should avoid starting important ventures and initiatives.

It is also not a good year for people born in the Rabbit and Horse years. Astrologer Kinzang Tobgye said that women who are 25 years old and men who are 37 years old born in the Rooster year have greater risk.

It is a good year for people born in the year of the Dragon.

The Rooster year is auspicious for those born in the year of the Water Dragon, six years (male) and Wood Dragon, 54 years (male). The datho recommends the two ages for important works like conducting of ground-breaking ceremonies and other auspicious events.

The third month (April 27 to May 25) and ninth month (October 20 to November 18) of the Rooster year are considered inauspicious to undertake any important ventures.