The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The six monuments being built on the roundabouts with unique traditional designs, religious features and various other figures like viewing deck etc have been finally completed. In addition to this the three gates with its own unique designs and an outdoor have all been completed too.
These have all been built to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo.
The monuments were designed by the Zorig Chusum with a budget of around two million funded by Chardi committee. It’s construction was monitored by the Thimphu thromde.
The outdoor gyms which have been built on various locations were initiated and installed by the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC) and funded by the Indian Embassy.
Each of the six monuments has their own unique traditional meaning and significance.
The Thuenpa Puenzhi monument located right at the entrance to the Babesa zero point resembles a symbol of friendship which relates to how four animals in the form of an elephant, a monkey, a hare and a patridge cooperated together and lived peacefully displaying peace and harmony.
The other monument of Tashi-Ta-Gye, located in front of the former UNDP office and now RBP office has the eight auspicious traditional symbols of good luck, protection and royalty. It protects one from all obstacles, illnesses and harmful forces. The monument has a giant holden vase in the middle surrounded by various signs.
The Golden Fishes represent happiness, fertility and abundance and the Treasure Vase is the divine vase of inexhaustible treasures possessing the quality of spontaneous manifestation. The Lotus, is the symbol of absolute purity and compassion and the Conch Shell is
an emblem of power, authority, and sovereignty believed to banish evil spirits and avert natural disasters. The Knot of Eternity, represents the meditative mind and it is an endless knot that overlaps without a beginning or an end which symbolize the Buddha’s endless wisdom and compassion.
The Victory Banner, is the emblem of Buddha’s victorious enlightenment and the methods for overcoming worldly defilements.
The Dharma Wheel which is the ancient symbol of creation and the symbol of spiritual and universal law in Buddhism. The hub of the wheel symbolizes moral discipline, the eight spokes, the Noble Eightfold Path, and the meditative concentration.All of the above make up the Tashi-ta-gye.
Another monument Doe-Pei-Yoenten-Nga located below the old taxi parking symbolizes wisdom and affection.
The Tashi-Dzey-Gye monument near Zone restaurant also known as the eight auspicious objects is composed of a mirror, cheese, longevity grass, papaya, clockwise-turning conch shell, bezoar, yellow lead, and white mustard seed.
A lotus like monument in front of the Ministry of Information roundabout is the picture of the Sage and is composed of water, lotus flower, birds, scriptures, sword, and other components. It’s meaning is to not forget the merits of the sages.
The three dakinis or Choepei lham also near the MoIC represents respect.
According to Chief Environment Officer, ThimphuThromde, Tshering Peljor said that those monument not only symbolize various significant meanings but they will serve as a source of beauty and wisdom for the upcoming generation.
“It is a very good initiative since it serves as a good luck charm to the people who travels around such monuments” he added.
