Gonpo Tongtsho means “Thousand Offering to Mahakala”. It is a fortnighly propitiating ceremony to the three Supreme Protector deities – Yeshey Gonpo, Palden Lhamo and Jarog Dongchen, done in all the sacred chambers called Goenkangs around the country.

Over 200 monks are involved and it is a costly affair. However, affluent families sponsor make it a tradition to sponsor these day-long rituals, once a year, as it is considered to raise their status in the community, as well as be blessed and protected. Sometimes families and friends also come together to sponsor it for one day in a year.

My family has been making an offering of Gonpo Tongtsho on Gonpo Duelzang (14th Day of Lunar Calendar) of the Treldha Month – in Semtokha Dzong for 5 years now. Initially we had committed for 3 years but we have kept going.

This is mainly to follow a tradition of our ancestral House in Tashigang being a Jindha (sponsor) in Tashigang Dzong. We have no idea when this was established but we have records of it going on for at least six generations.

Now that Thimphu has become our home for the last 30 years we decided to pay our gratitude to the deities here. Back in Tashigang Dzong, on this day, we also continue to fulfil the age-old tradition, without interruption.

Semtokha Dzong

Semtokha Dzong is the first Dzong built by the founder of Bhutan as a nation-state, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel (1594-1651). It is thus one of the most important religious  monument in the country, despite the fact that the larger Tashichho Dzong in the same valley serves as the country’s capitol building.

The internal architecture is unique with three temples on the same floor having the same common and large prayer hall in the middle. This way a quick visit is possible, as there is no need to do different floors to visit different temples.

Still, for the ardent devotees, the top floor has the residence of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, which has been turned into a small temple.

#mahakala #paldenlhamo #protectordeities #semtokha #thimphu #bhutan