The Bhutanese Leading the way.
His Majesty The King installed a Sertog on the Drukgyal Dzong’s Utse
The first birth anniversary of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey on 5th February saw a host of spiritual and celebratory activities across 20 Dzongkhags.
Coinciding with His Royal Highness The Gyalsey’s first birthday, His Majesty The King installed the Sertog on the Drukgyal Dzong’s Utse early on the morning of 5th February. The reconstruction project for the Drukgyal Dzong was announced last year to commemorate the Royal Birth.
HIs Majesty granted Tokha to the personnel working at the Dzong construction site. Lunch was also granted to all the personnel involved in the construction and reconstruction works of dzongs, lhakhangs, and other religious structures across the country.
His Majesty The King, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen, with His Royal Highness The Gyalsey, offered prayers before the Zhabdrung Ku at the Simtokha Dzong.
During the prayer ceremony held at the Dzong, representatives from the government, central monk body, armed forces, and the people, offered Phuelcha to commemorate the first Birth Anniversary of His Royal Highness The Gyalsey.
The Agriculture Minister made a symbolic offering of traditional Soelbam herd consisting of cattle, Bhutanese mastiffs and horses complete with tack, to His Royal Highness The Gyalsey on behalf of the people.
As a special national initiative to commemorate HRH Gyalsey’s first birthday, and for the accumulation of karmic merit to benefit all sentient beings, over a hundred thousand lives of fish, yaks, cattle, birds, and goats were spared (tsethar) and the animals released from captivity in various dzongkhags in Bhutan and in Bangladesh and India. Special prayers (Tshethar moenlam) and the lighting of butter lamps were also carried out.
Buddhist centres in Tawang, Thailand, Myanmar, Srilanka, Bodhgaya, Mysore, Dehradun, Lhasa, Nepal, and Mongolia came together to offer prayers, and organized kurims and lit butterlamps at the different locations to mark the occasion, with prayers for world peace.
Meanwhile various institutions and individuals across the country initiated celebrations and prayers to commemorate HRH Gyalsey’s birthday. Various groups organized blood donation drives, and cleaning campaigns, and school students pledged to read more, among other similar activities.
People from Bhutan and around the world offered an overwhelming outpouring of wishes and messages on various platforms online, and major media agencies covered the occasion.
The Prime Minister Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay said that the Zhung Dratshang undertook Kurims in Tashichhodzong and all Rabdeys across the country.
The Nyingma Chodey also undertook kurims across the country as part of a larger outpouring of love, affection and dedication, the PM said.
Shiva Maha Yagna Hindu Kurim which is the largest so far in Bhutan went on until the 5th of February.
All Dzongkhags, Gewogs and villages saw recitation of Kanjur and Bum coordinated by the respective Dzongdas.
Lyonchhen on the same day at 2:00 the PM, launched Sheldon- Animation series at the Bhutan Broadcasting Service office in Thimphu as a gift from HRH The Gyalsey to the children of Bhutan.
Lyonchhen said that Sheldon has both values and will also allow children to pick up Dzongkha at an early age.
Work will also begin for the construction of Chortens on the Thrumshingla and Pelela passes.
The people who planted the trees during the Tendrel ceremony and the Guinness World record come again to take care of the trees.
A delegation from Zhung Dratshang went to offer prayers in both the tooth relic Buddhist Monastery in Sri Lanka and also to the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya.
A book will also be launched after the 1st birth anniversary documenting the events that celebrated the arrival of HRH The Gyalsey as well as personal audiences that have been granted.
Schools across the country also celebrated the occasion with various pledges like pledges to read a certain number of books, stay away from bad habits etc.
Cultural programs were also carried out in various locations including in Thimphu to celebrate the day.
The people from across 20 Dzongkhags apart from taking part in many of the above activities celebrated the day in various ways which included visiting Lhakhangs.
