Kyichu, Paro

Kicking off the first day of the Lunar New Year – known as Dawa Dangpa, with a lhabsang of a rental in Paro that will serve as my office as well as guesthouse/residence for my local support team.

The “last” New Year.

Interestingly, for Sharchop traditionally this Losar is somewhat a “sad” moment because it is the last celebration before the tough farming season.

The Sharchop people of eastern Bhutan are a happy-go-lucky community that finds every excuse to have a good time.

Starting from the Blessed Rainy Day in September the people in eastern Bhutan engage is a series of celebrations, happy days lasting for six months, such as Ngenpa, Nyilo, Dawa Chunipa, and finally Dawa Dangpa. Coinciding with this celebration the people would go on an overdrive and do merrymaking for a mininum of 3 days.

Time and traditions have changed with urbanization.

👍👍👍

NB: I also visited Kyichu temple (my new neighbour in Paro) to offer gratitude and prayers to Jowo Shakyamuni and to my friend Za Rahula (asked him to take care of my stroke patients).