Flower Gardening at Jaba Jangchubcholing Goenpa

Lomba Celebrations in My Village

 https://youtu.be/sTHSfWN-oEs?si=611OIjJJ99n0pRJS

This video showcases how the people of Jashina Village under Naja Gewog in Paro celebrated Lomba, the Bhutanese New Year, in their own unique ways. The villagers participated in various festive activities, including visiting local temples to express gratitude for a successful year and offer prayers for continued peace and prosperity. They also engaged in sporting events and lively dances to welcome the New Year with happiness and enjoyment. Finally, the community came together to share delicious meals and refreshments, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie.

Lomba is the joyous New Year celebrated in the Haa and Paro districts of Bhutan. This vibrant festival marks the successful passage of the previous year and the auspicious arrival of the new one. The very name "Lomba" is deeply rooted in its significance: "Lo" translates to "year," and "ba" means "carry." Thus, "Lomba" literally signifies "leaving behind the past year and carrying forward a new one."

Celebrated from the 29th day of the 10th month to the 2nd day of the 11th month in the Lunar Calendar, Lomba ushers in the beginning of a fresh cycle. It's a cherished time for families to reunite and communities to come together in festive merriment.

Like all Bhutanese festivals, Lomba is a time for lively celebrations. Archery and "khuru" (a traditional game) are popular pastimes. However, Lomba is uniquely distinguished by its culinary delights. In Haa, the festival is incomplete without "Hoentey," a special type of dumpling. Unlike traditional momos, Hoentey features a unique outer layer made from buckwheat instead of flour. The flavorful filling is a zesty blend of dried turnip leaves, chili, and fermented cheese. While Paro boasts its own rich culinary traditions for this occasion, both valleys share a common thread – the preparation of festive delicacies.

Beyond the festivities, Lomba is a time for spiritual reflection. People perform rituals to ward off evil spirits and invoke blessings for prosperity in the coming year. It's also an opportunity to express gratitude to the protective deities for a successful year.

A Book Worth Reading

 

Moments, milestones, and memories define the tapestry of our lives. Each day, we navigate through these pivotal elements, shaping the narrative of our existence. Within this intricate dance, certain moments, milestones, and memories stand out as extraordinary, elevating our lives and imbuing them with significance. This essence is precisely captured in the pages of "Moments, Milestones, and Memories."

As we delve into the contents of this book, we encounter a myriad of herbs and minerals that possess the power to soothe, repair, and mend our souls. They prompt introspection, inviting us to reflect on the past and gain insights for the present while providing a vision for the future. The remarkable anecdotes, memories, and milestones shared by the author serve as a wellspring of inspiration, motivation, and positive energy, encouraging us to savor, celebrate, and lead our lives with purpose.

Beyond the wealth of wisdom embedded in the book, it serves as a reminder of the profound significance inherent in every move we make. Through skillful narration, the author escorts us on a journey through the higher spectrum of life, presenting a mosaic of experiences, stories, and memories. This narrative not only entertains but also enlightens, fostering a deeper appreciation for the intricacies that shape our individual journeys.

After a Long Time

It’s been a long time I haven’t written down what crossed my senses. Most of my time has been consumed by the responses I have to write while fulfilling my official obligations and mandates. Although I could gain while answering my official calls too, I don’t derive much satisfaction if I haven’t written something of my own, something that comes right out of my heart, in a day or a week. Forget about days and weeks, it’s almost a year that I haven’t shared here anything.

Days pass by and so does the reactions of my senses. So if I don’t share something that meets my senses, I feel that all sorts of wonderful experiences and learning I could garner with time are drying with the time.

From here on I will commit to share at least one thing in a week. I cannot commit to share daily because of the nature of the busy schedule I have to lead sometimes. If possible I would love to share on daily basis as sharing on daily basis fills my heart with sense of achievement.

2020 has been a challenging year across the globe. The most deadly pandemic challenged everything in the world. The global economy has been at the stake. The advancement in science and medical field has been put to great test. The aftermath of the virus fast spreading across the world, not leaving even a rich and powerful countries, made the people think over a lot to run the time in most fitting way. Lockdowns and shutdowns, quarantines and travel restrictions, working from homes, shopping online, virtual meetings and conferences, social distancing and had washing, all of such things happened this year.

The virus has not left the globe still. The spread is widespread still. The most successful vaccine has not come out still. The successful ones are still not 100% effective. Oxford Uni-AstraZeneca is 62-90% effective while Moderna is 95 % effective. Pfizer and Gamaleya are 95 % and 92 % effective respectively. The vaccines are still seeking regulatory approval from the concerned authorities. The virus has not left with time. May be it’s waiting for the time to make the world realize that how weak and unprepared the people still are despite accelerating global economy.

The President Trump too was challenged by the pandemic and may be it even cost his re-election. The US still is the leading country with most cases. The President-elect Joe Biden has formed a task force to respond the pandemic. It has been one key campaign of Biden Harris to respond the pandemic in most professional matter particularly by believing in science and listening to the scientist which the President Trump ignored almost this year. The Americans will watch. And if Biden comes out to be successful in wiping out the virus in his country, the world will benefit too apart from the Americans.

Our country too couldn’t keep the virus away. However under the blessings of our self-less leaders, the case is still low. The covid-19 protocols has been seriously observed. The health and wellbeing of the people have been given the highest priority by the government although there has been economic cost for implementing the C0vid-19 protocols seriously.

So the time is still passing and it’s a month to close 2020. And most of us are still surviving through the difficult times.

A Child Teaches

Raising a child is real challenge yet it's an great opportunity for us to meditate on the troubles and sacrifices our parents have gone through to raise us and consequently we could thank our parents. 
It takes our patience,  creativity and perseverance to bring up a child.  From the time it wake up, the child is restless always looking forward to do something.  And the child's restlessness demand our effort to engage him or her to the best that he or she doesn't meet any sort of mishaps or accidents.  Even a day with a child demands a huge share of our attention,  mindfulness, patience and perseverance. In the process of being with a child,  there is always fun and learning to the extent of revealing true character of ours. 
      My about to turn two years old son teaches me great sense of patience, creativity, management, perseverance, fun, love and care.  Whenever I am with him,  I have to be alert and mindful that his restleness doesn't provoke a slightest mishap or two.  And then to channel his restlessness into something productive is yet another challenge that really test both my ingrained and trained skills of engaging children.  Children by nature are curious of anything they see around and we as parents are conscious of their health and safety.  It takes our tremendous energy to engage our children meaningfully. 
      My son has unbeatable affinity towards automobiles.  Even a farthest and faint roar of an automobile pricks his attention and responds us,  'whu.....whu... ' and if fail to take him towards that source of automobile sound,  he throws his tantrum by throwing his body flat on whatever he is standing, mattress or rocky garden. Good if we could make him actually see the passing automobile.  And again,  if there is a vehicle parked around,  he desperately pulls us towards the parked ones.  So carefully and seriously, he inspects every part of the parked ones as if a mechanic is inspecting a car.  So we have to there till he is satisfied with the parked one.  If there are many cars parked, then our then our time on that parking multiplies by the number of cars parked.  At times when we are not well physically or emotionally,  it's really a patience losing sort of episode in our life with our son.  No matter what we have to ensure his happiness by letting him do whatever he likes. 
     In my effort to ensure my boy's affection and attraction towards any sort of automobile,  I am blessed with tremendous exercise both physically and emotionally.  Physically I have to walk and move around a lot.  Emotionally,  as mentioned I have to be patient,  caring and loving as much as I can. 
     Raising a child seriously is an opportunity for us to learn,  relieving learn and unlearn.

The Great 4th, Truly Great Leader

On this special day of the birth anniversary of His Majesty the Great 4th DrukGyelpo,  I offer my sincere prayer for the continued good health of His Majesty the King.  It is a day to offer our gratitude in whatever way we could for all the peace and prosperity we are enjoying today. 
     Of all the blessings we have received from His Majesty the King,  the gift of democracy has been the most priceless.  It is known by all that the democracy in our country is truly a gift from the golden throne.  The episode of democracy in our country is a peaceful transition of governance.  The people didn't demanded democracy nor did they cried and fought for democracy.  Rather the people were taken aback when the Great Fourth announced the coming of democracy in our country coupled with his abdication.  So the people reluctantly accepted the gift. 
     Today after a decade of democracy in our country, we are witnessing how much the Great Fourth had been farsighted for the well-being of our nation by looking at the developments and achievements since 2008. With the birth of democracy,  the people from all walks of life came forward to serve the nation better by forming political parties and aspiring for the Members of the Parliament.  In the process,  democracy started to take roots with the spirits of selflessness and peacefulness.  The people are now matured enough to vote for the candidates who really can stand up as their voice.  And the ability of the people to choose their right leaders is a true indication that they want to receive the blessings that they have been praying for.  And equally the ability of the leaders  to answer their people's needs and wants is a wish granting jewel for the people.  Both the abilities,  the people's ability to vote without fear or favor and the leaders' ability to deliver their pledges are true manifestation of the Great Fourth's blessings. Now the people have choice to decide their fate by responsibly exercising their franchise of votes. 
     Now unlike in the past,  age doesn't stand as a barrier to become 'dashos'. So long as one is fit with highest level of competency and ability,  he or she can become a Dasho without having to climb his or her career ladder for a long time.  The ruling government's appointment of some young ministers is an inspiration to the young and competent ones that the most coveted posts do not really belong to the senior and experienced citizens.  With such inspiration flowing in their nurouns, the young and competent ones will continue to develop and sharpen their competencies and set themselves ready for any kind of move they wish to take without a slightest  'I am not matured enough to hold that post,  I am still young and have enough time to prepare for that place... ' sort of sense.
     Everything that is happening, new government with better packages for the nation in every five years,  people's ability to make right choice, young and competent people remaining inspired etc are truly the Great Fourth's vision for our nation.  All of us are confident that the Bhutanese democracy and the Gross National Happiness,  the priceless gifts of His Majesty the King Jigme Singye Wangchuk,  will continue to succeed and bless us all. 

We Made our Choice

So finally 2018 election fever has started to come down with the close of polls yesterday evening at 5 pm.  And the Bhutanese have decided their destiny for the following five years and beyond.  Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa led by Bhutan's popular urologist Dr Lotey won 30 seats in the parliament out of 47 seats. The election result is due to be declared officially at 9 am by the Chief Election Commissioner today. 

DNT, an outside parliament party which came into political fray in 2013 will enter the annals of Bhutan History as third democratically elected government in Bhutan.  And Druk Phunsum Tshogpa will continue its status as opposition party and as a seasoned party in the parliament. 

Now with election result already known although officially undeclared,  we are going to have a government which most of us voted for change and a opposition of seasoned party. 

And for that we are confident that the government elect party will deliver it's pledges and fulfill the nation's mandate and the opposition elect party will offer strong check and balances of the ruling party.  All for the happiness, security and peacefulness of our nation.  We are confident because DNT although fresh party to enter the parliament has worked so hard to make itself trust worthy and strong to the Bhutanese over a decade and the opposing party DPT  experience as a term as ruling party and a term as opposition, coupled with credible candidates won.

Hopefully, for the welling of all the people,  everything will gain better health under the leadership of DNT. And we pray for everlasting peace, security and happiness shinning in our nation.  We will look upon our great kings' unwavering compassion and concern.  We will look forward to see snows crowning our nation. And most importantly we look forward to see the people united and the small rifts and divisions created by the parties healed and usher our nation for everlasting peace and prosperity.  All for our present moment and our children's future.