Thimphu Tsechu, Festival in the Capital of Bhutan on from 9-13 September 2013

Thimphu Tsechu, one of the most popular Tsechus (festivals) is on from 9th - 13th September, 2013. The Thimphu Tsechu at the capital of Bhutan is a great time to catch the local culture, religious pageantry and to mix with the Bhutanese at their most fun. Package Cost: US$ 2250 per person. Visit

 http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/Pages/holidays/festival_thimphu_tsechu.htm

Ancient Festival disrupted by Modern Democracy

28 April, Bumthang: Ura Yakchoe festival in Ura, Bumthang for the first time in known history was stopped because of the National Council Elections!! Involving wine (singchang) tasting and drinking, the Election officials made the locals postpone the festival as arriving having alcohol to vote is not allowed. However, after the election and resumption of  the festival the election officials attended the festivities as a 'token of good appreciation' for abiding by the election norms. Now what can one say about this? Old traditions hampered by democracy? Or just necessary side effects of modernisation...

NC losers, going to try becoming MP winners

Ok, the Bhutan Upper House (National Council) Elections are over and in a month or so is the main National Assembly elections for Member of Parliament. Now, apparently the (apolitical) ones who lost the National Council elections are allowed to take part in the (very political) MP elections if they can wrangle a ticket. Is this normal? Does this happen in other parts of the world? I wonder...

Bhutan- the Himalayan Kingdom: Shabdrung Kuchoe

Bhutan- the Himalayan Kingdm: Shabdrung Kuchoe: 20 April 201, Thimphu: The Bhutanese today observed Shabdrung Kuchoe commemorating the passing of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the Unifier o...

Shabdrung Kuchoe

20 April 201, Thimphu: The Bhutanese today observed Shabdrung Kuchoe commemorating the passing of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the Unifier of Bhutan, in 1651 CE. On this Death Anniversary of Shabdrung, this year falling on a weekend, so holiday goodbye :( devotees go to temples to pray and circumambulate the chortens for blessings and spiritual peace... Today evening I visited the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck Memorial Chorten in Thimphu and just happened to shoot this brief footage on the evening of  Shabdrung Kuchoe and put it online at www.BhutanRebirth.com...

Bhutan's Second General Elections- to go or not to go...

Ok..the newly democratic country of Bhutan is now about to have the 2nd General Elections. Tuesday is the National Council Elections. So, first people have to see the candidates debate and hear them answer questions asked by the electorate. Just to show you how things are going... day before yesterday, in one of the big districts in the east- Samdrup Jongkhar, all the three candidates had to do was stare at each other while no one, zero number of people turned up. Is that indifference or ignorance of the democratic process?

I myself will not be bothering to vote this time. A huge number of other Bhutanese will also not be voting for various reasons ranging from "own village too far to go to vote" to "couldn't be bothered"...

This is just the way the story goes....

Just an observation from http://www.bhutanrebirth.com/