Bonism in Bongo

The people of Bongo, a remote village under Chhukha dzongkhag, are optimistic that this year too, their crops will be bountiful, natural calamities will be less and there will be no sickness in their village. The Bongo Lhakhang houses the two local female deities The villagers as usual, invoked their Yul-Lha (local deities) and believe …

Bon, Buddhism or both – What do we Bhutanese believe?

While we in Bhutan may be Buddhists in faith, it seems that we are more Bon in our daily rituals. In the past, because of our lack of understanding of Bon, we simply relegated it to the villages (of earlier Kuensel article written by Rinzin Wangchuk), where animals were sacrificed and Yul lhas worshipped. But …

Kharam festival: To ward off evil and bad luck

Three-day Kharam festival in Chali and Tsakaling ends. The celebration was subdued because of the Covid-19 pandemic where gathering is disallowed, but the people of Tsakaling and Chali gewogs, Mongar went ahead with the Kharam festival. Kharamshing to ward off the evil forces in Chali gewog The Kharam festival is important and is more relevant …