Saba Tshechu of Dangchu Gewog

Have you ever heard of the flower festival of Dangchu Gewog? There are many flower festivals around the world and each of these are different from the other. Most of them are created to attract tourists but the flower festival of Dangchu is an age-old custom and tradition. The festival is locally known as Saba Tsechu based on the name of the community Lhakhang where the festival is celebrated. However, this Tshechu is unlike the other Tshechus without mask dances or folk dances.

Local kid dressed in the brocade Gho holding a bouquet of peach flower

It is celebrated annually on the tenth day of the Bhutanese second month (ཟཱཝ་གཉིས་པའི་ཚེས་བཅུ་ཐམ) coinciding with Guru Rimpoche’s auspicious day. However, once in every three years there is a public blessing (དབང) during this festival. 

The festival is celebrated by the people of two Chiwogs (Gobja-Tasa, Tomla-Tokaling). People here prepare a basket of cut flowers which is used to decorate their home even the doors and windows as early as 5:00am in the morning. The local people believe that Guru visits their houses in the early morning on this day to bless them. Likewise at this time it is the onset of flower blooming so the people decorate their houses as a flower offering. 

Early in the morning the local leaders walk to Zhabjay Lhakhang which is Guru’s Lhakhang to offer prayers and butter lamps to Guru as this day is an auspicious day for Guru Rimpoche. 

After thanking and receiving blessings from Guru Rimpoche the leaders proceed to Saba Lhakhang in a ceremonial procession. Person leading the procession carries a bouquet of flowers which is mainly made of Rhododendron and Peach flower. They are received by the local people wrapped in their best attire which isn’t worn from home but from a hill top which is known as ‘Gola sosa pokto’ which literally translates to the hill for changing clothes. 

Bouquet of flower tied to a stick

When they reach Saba Lhakhang they circumvent around the Lhakhang as a sign to offer the flower to their local deity, Ap Keitsub to please him for protection, wealth and prosperity of the community. After three rounds the bouquet is hoisted near the prayer flags. It is believed that whenever the local people seek protection from their deity they always offer and hoist prayer flags.

Local leaders in ceremonial procession heading towards Saba Lhakhang

Inside the Lhakhang alcohol offering (Marchang) is made to the deity followed by local people giving out cups of “Zhimtsi” to all the local leaders as per their position/rank such Gups gets three, Chipoen gets two and Laytshey gets one. Then the local people also offer fried wheat to the Monk of the Lhakhang which is later used to make ceremonial cakes. In return the monk there gives hearty meals to the people. The local people share the meal together in circles and laughter. The festival ends with ‘Zhimtsi’ war as a form of entertainment. This is not really a food waste but just their tradition of uniting and celebrating their unity. 

Local people collecting fried wheat to be given to the monk

This festival is considered as the last celebration for the year for their year round hard work and they have no celebrations until the blessed rainy day which is only in the September. Until then the people are engaged in doing their farm work. 

Local people celebrating with fried Zhimtsi

Being Women

What does it mean to be a woman in this male dominated society? Well, for me it is to stand strong for the things I believe in and to wear the crown of confidence and pride for being rare in abundance. 

To be a woman is to wake up an hour early in the morning just to set the breakfast and ready the kids for school. It is also to make it for work all the time and smile even when the period cramps are killing you. It is to have flawless skin despite the sleeps derived. It is to walk in 3 inch heels and swallow the pain it is giving to the legs. It is to be at par with the male colleagues at office in every aspect while humbly taking in the comments and reminders from them that we are women. It is amazing to see the extend a women can go.

I assume the list of privileges will go on but one should not forget being a woman is also to raise your voice when needed. It is to be able to take one’s stand when treated with injustice just because we are women. It is to have dreams and ambitions beyond taking care of the family and home. It is to take equal opportunities and take the front seat which has always been occupied by the males. It is to take care of one’s emotions and vent out if needed. It is to support other women and take time to listen and hear out their stories of being women. It is to celebrate ourselves and the privileges bestowed upon us for being a woman.

To all the women out there I am glad to be one of you.

Cheers to being women