Today is Nyilo (literally meaning the Return of the Sun), which is an important day in the Buddhist calendar. In Thimphu, Punakha and Wangde it is celebrated as the New Year. In the West, it is called Winter Solstice.

It is believed that today the Sun starts its journey from the South after paying homage to the Lord of South Direction, Yama (Shinje in Dzongkha, གཤིན་རྗེ་), who is also the Lord of Death – or the Lord of Judgement of Death.

Since in the court of Yama is believed to be filled with many dead souls waiting for the trial, some of them escape by tagging along with the Sun.These dead souls called shinpo are considered to cause all sorts of problems in the human world – sickness, accidents, disaccords, loss of property, etc.

To avert such misfortunes, one has to conduct propitiating ceremonies to one’s family protector deities (choe-sung) and kay-lha (birth deities) and invoke the blessing of Sangay Tshepamay for life (Tshe in Dzongkha) and Namsey for wealth (Yang). This is the reason why Bhutanese families conduct annual lochoe (rituals) during winter months.

During the Summer Solstice, the Sun returns from the North and the Lord of North Direction is Kubera – the God of Wealth. So in Summer if one can do propitiating rituals to deities of wealth such as Kubera (Zambala), Unisha Vijjaya (Namgyelma) or Tara (Drolma), it would be great. You need some wealth to pay your bills and do dharma. Many temples across Bhutan do Namgyel Tongcho in Summer.

The king of rituals is Drolma Yuldhog, which is my favourite. I do this twice a year, irrespective of the season because it includes everything – wealth, health, progress in life, enlightenment thereafter, etc.

If you cannot conduct large ceremonies you should at least visit temples and wish away your problems. I usually go to Semtokha because there are three altars in one big hall.

You could also donate a small amount of money to conduct prayers such as Barchel Lamsel, Dukkar, and Sherub Nyinpo. This Saturday and Sunday are very good days to do that. (These days just use mobile banking from anywhere. Contact me if you want to donate to Ngajur Pemachopheling Monastery).

Happy New Year to the natives of Thimphu, Wangdue and Punakha. Please don’t forget to wish me back on Sharchop Losar (coming soon). 😁😁😁