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Conversation about animal sacrifice rituals

Tashi Dorji and Dorji Phuntsho discuss rituals involving animal sacrifice in Dukti village. In the past, it was customary for every household to raise a pig to be killed for ritual purposes. They say that now, over a decade later, they have stopped raising pigs for sacrifice.
Date: May 21, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about annual feast offerings, part 1

Conversation about the annual feast offering, started around 50 years ago. They discuss how the community shares the work responsibly, applies tax, lends money, calculates the interest, and returns utensils after the feast offering is completed. They keep track of the funds generated through the lending of money. They discuss how much cash was used for the current feast offering, and what amount was paid as remuneration to each monk.
Date: May 26, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about annual feast offerings, part 2

Conversation about the annual feast offering, started around 50 years ago. They discuss how the community shares the duties of organizing, preparing, and funding the annual feast. They describe how the practice of Zhakchang, where people gather to finish the leftover wine from ritual ceremonies, was a common feature of any ritual. Zhakchang also gives an opportunity to those households who couldn’t come to the ritual. It is an avenue where a missed opportunity for one neighbor to take part in a neighbor's ritual ceremonies. In this recording, each sponsor discusses who is going to be the leader in the next feast offering, and how cash and extra rations should be used.
Date: May 26, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Bön and Buddhism

Cheten Tshering and Lama Tshering discuss how Bön considers Guru Rinpoche, using informal language when talking about him. They discuss why eggs are offered in Bön, why pork is forbidden, and the instruments used in Bön traditions. They say that, to fulfill wishes, it is best to pay homage, but for ultimate enlightenment, one must practice Buddhism.
Date: June 10, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Dukti Lhakhang

Dorji and Tashi Dorji, residents of Dukti village, discuss the history of the Dukti Lhakhang. A lhakhang is a religious structure used for housing sacred objects and performing rituals, often built in a geographically or spiritually significant location. This site was originally known as Dukti Tsebrang because it was too small to be called a lhakhang. They explain that the statue of Buddha, mural painting on the wall, and giant pillars were all added during the renovation. The head carpenter was Tshong Tshongma Lopen; he was guided by another carpenter Namgay Tshering. At that time, there were only twelve households in Dukti village. They collectively sponsored the construction.
Date: May 24, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Jomo rituals

Dorji and Tashi Dorji, residents of Dukti village, discuss rituals related to the Jomo. They explain that, before the Jomo enters into a trance, she wears a five crown cap and has fruits and other foods as her feast offering. Then, the Jomo starts her ritual. It is believed that, wherever the Jomo takes her next birth, she will be born into a rich family.
Date: May 24, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Kha Bön rituals

Lama Tshering and Chote Tshering discuss the recent increase in the practice of Kha Bön, where people are appeasing the malicious spirit without formal training. They are seen offering flour mixed with meat, fermented sometimes without meat, and fermented wine to appease spirits that affect us. They say some even perform Bön Nag, where animal sacrifices are required.
Date: June 10, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Kharam rituals

Chote Tshering and Lama Tshering, two respected lay monks, discuss Kharam, a curse associated with gossip, and rituals performed to ward off the curse. They say the Kharam ritual in Bön is quite amazing. They build a Kharam Shang (a wooden target made of Rhus Chinensis). They will place that target inside the house and shoot the arrow into it.
Date: June 10, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Ladam rituals in Dukti village

Tashi Dorji and Dorji Phuntsho discuss the different rituals performed in Dukti village related to Ladam involving restricting both locals and outsiders from visiting the mountain Tshong Tshongma between plantation and harvesting of crops. The entry to Tshong Tshongma closes on the 10th day of the third month of the Tibetan calendar. If someone does enter this area during the restricted months, it brings heavy rain, winds, and landslides to the area.
Date: May 21, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Serwa Dzong, part 1

Dorji and Tashi Dorji, residents of Dukti village, discuss Serwa Dzong, an abandoned fortress outside Dukti village (about two hours walking). They describe how Serwa Dzong looked before it was covered by trees, and the security features: one before entering, and another after reaching the courtyard. There were two water resources next to the Dzong which are no longer visible today. They also discuss a fight between Serwa Dzong and Tshong Tshongma.
Date: May 24, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about Serwa Dzong, part 2

Dorji and Tashi Dorji, residents of Dukti village, discuss Serwa Dzong, an abandoned fortress outside Dukti village (about two hours walking). They explain that no one is sure when it was originally built, and now only ruins remain to tell its existence. They say it was used as a checkpoint in ancient times to collect taxes from merchants passing through Bhutan into the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Now, there is a makeshift police checkpoint next to the ruins, erected during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep watch on trespassers.
Date: May 24, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Conversation about the naked dance festival

Dorji and Tashi Dorji, residents of Dukti village, discuss the naked dance festival of Dukti village. They explain that little is known about this festival, including when it began. In the past, leaders like Tshong Tshongma Lopen and local police have tried to stop it due to the nudity. However, after the attempts to stop the festival, snakes would spring out in large numbers across the village and their crops were affected. Now, it takes place on the 10th day of the fifth month in the Bhutanese calendar.
Date: May 24, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Demonstration of Nêpo appeasement rituals

Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Nêpo, a local ghost or spirit who steals the life force of humans. The name Nêpo is Dakpa for 'guest'. He can be appeased by raising prayer flags using mugwort and offering wine. Also present were Gajay and Wangdi's grandchildren.
Date: June 19, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description and demonstration of Kharam rituals

Lama Tshering and Chote Tshering discuss Kharam, a curse associated with gossip, and rituals performed to ward off the curse. It is considered dangerous to one's health. In Bönism, a lead master will mold a ritual cake and perform a ritual ceremony to ward off these spirits. He will slice the cake and foretell the ritual ceremonies that need to be performed.
Date: June 10, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of appeasement rituals in Dukti village

Tashi Dorji describes how residents of Dukti village appease the local deities for taking care of their crops when the mountain roads are closed for four months every year. During this time, they offer feasts and fermented wine to the local deities once a month. He explans that the wine for the appeasement and Tshok for the deity is collected as a community tax. Recorded at Dukti Gup Sonam's house in Dukti village.
Date: May 23, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Bön rituals and foods

Lama Tshering and Chote Tshering discuss how eggs are offered in the Bön ritual to symbolize the heart of a head of the family (usually the mother). In the Bön ritual, garlic, pork, and spring onion are forbidden. They say Shergain Mewang is the wrathful form, whereas Sherab Mebar is the peaceful form. If the people practicing Bön have a sudden sickness, then they offer a butter lamp and cash as an offering to him to recover instantly.
Date: June 10, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of crops in Thragom village

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes growing corn and other crops in Thragom village, explaining that corn was the staple diet in Thragom historically. In the past, they would plant during the month of April and harvest during late October to early November. They also plant soybeans, pumpkin, and cucumbers in the maize field. She says that monkeys are the main animals that destroy corn and other crops.
Date: June 8, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Dakpa riddles

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She says riddles were part of every mother's teaching to support children's thought processes and to teach them about common mistakes.
Date: June 8, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of farming practices in Thragom village

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes farming practices used for staple crops, such as corn, wheat, and buckwheat. She says the community would work on each other's farm on rotational bases, using manure made from a mixture of dry oak leaf and cow dung on the farmland to increase the yield.
Date: June 8, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of millet in Thragom village

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She says that, of all the farming works, the plantation of millet was most sought after. Millet seeds were planted before the arrival of the magpie in the village, and planting millet after the arrival of the magpie was considered late and generally wouldn’t have a good yield. During millet plantation, the workers would share fermented wine using a big ox horn.
Date: June 8, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Nak Chö rituals

The speaker describes the Nak Chö ritual practiced by their ancestors on the maternal side. They raise a pig for a year in the name of their parental deity. When the time for the ritual comes, they carry the pig to Kudung village in Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India and sacrifice it. They stopped practicing the pig sacrifice ritual when their grandmother pass away.
Date: May 29, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of Nak Chö rituals and animal sacrifice

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes Nak Chö rituals, explaining that all the ritual cakes were prepared, and only then a pig was killed. This was followed by encircling of ritual cakes with the intestines of the pig. The ritual was performed only once in Thragom. During other early ritual celebrations, it was done in the maternal home of the grandmother.
Date: June 8, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of ponpo curry, part 1

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes how to prepare ponpo curry using lichen, demonstrating the process of steaming the lichen with ash before cooking. She explains that people in Thragom village consume ponpo curry once a year to wash away any dirt or hair inside the body.
Date: June 16, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library

Description of ponpo curry, part 2

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes how to prepare ponpo curry using lichen and demonstrates how to thoroughly wash the dirt from the lichen. She also shares memories of eating ponpo curry and collecting dry lichen while gathering firewood during childhood.
Date: June 16, 2022
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
System: The UNT Digital Library