Conversation between Lama Wangmo, Chador, and Tshangpa while uprooting paddy seedlings. They say these seeds must be planted for two to three months before being transplanted. Lama Wangmo says that, this year, she was a little late, hence these seedlings are not that good.

View of rice paddies in Mazhing, near Rolam village going toward Thragom village. It is known as Mazhing 'main', because it is the main paddy for Rolam village.

Mr. Koncho Tshering describes how his son helped build the Jarungkhashor stupa located outside Kathmandu, Nepal. Also known as Bouddha, Boudhanath, or Khasti Chaitya, it is one of the oldest stupas in the world. He says that construction and later renovations were funded by selling religious instruments and blessed earth collected from Nepal, India, and Bhutan in the Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Mr. Koncho Tshering discusses Tshokhang's history and construction. He says the land for Tshokhang was chosen by Mr. Zhokpo, and Mr. Nagsang and Tandin were the carpenters involved in the construction. He says it was originally much smaller than it is today. After the construction of Tshokhang, every 10th day of the lunar calendar a Bazer Guru and Chenrezig mantra is recited through the sponsorship of villagers.

Mr. Koncho Tshering discusses his family's migration to Bhutan. His parents and his mother's two relatives migrated to Bhutan from the Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh, India. He says the main reason for this was the heavy tax in Tawang at the time. He says their parents have to take plank towards Tshona (Tibet) every year, and also pay taxes to Tawang Monastery. After migrating to Bhutan, they stayed in Thragom village.

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.

This recording shows the change in construction methods and materials in Thragom village. This block was made by workers and local community members. In the past, house construction was a community affair where everyone lent their hand. In this case, the construction of the house is given to the lowest bidder.

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes her pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya, a Buddhist temple in Bihar, India. First, she walked to Trashigang, in the middle of Trashigang Dzong courtyard. From Trashigang she took a truck. She says that almost all the elders in her village went together and almost all of them died, except for 6 of them. It took them a week to reach Buddha Gaya. They took their rations and cooked using firewood. The glaring difference she discusses is that now, there is no fencing around the Bodhi tree. They were allowed to get inside the Mahabodhi temple without any trouble. They did inner circulation on the second floor of Mahabodhi temple, which is impossible now.

Mrs. Humchung is one of the oldest people living in Thragom village. She describes her pilgrimage to Buddha Gaya, a Buddhist temple in Bihar, India. They stayed in the way in the open fields on their way to Buddha Gaya by truck. Others took Ngultrum 700 for their trip to Buddha Gaya. From Trashigang district, they took a Bhutanese truck through Rangiya, Hasimara, and Siliguri on the way.

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.

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.

Chorten Tshering and Koncho Tshering discuss their concerns about how the annual feast offerings will be carried out by the upcoming generation. They say that, with much hardship, their parents were able to start the community feast offering. In the past, local customary taxes were levied upon the households to conduct feasts, and used as seed money for the following years. Still today, these feasts are funded by this seed money.

Chorten Tshering and Koncho Tshering discuss their concerns about how the annual feast offerings will be carried out by the upcoming generation. Chorten Tshering says that, in his view, those children born in villages are more likely to continue than children born in towns. He thinks that children born in villages have a strong connection with the village's customs, are easier to mingle with, and will more easily adapt to difficult situations. He is worried that, in the future, future generations may not carry forward the local customs and traditions.

Conversation among the feast sponsors about the annual feast offering, recorded after the feast. They describe the practice of Zhakchang where people gather to finish the leftover wine and food from ritual ceremonies. The sponsors of the feast offering clean utensils and the Tshokhang (temple). Later they return all the utensils to their rightful owners if they have borrowed them.

Conversation among the feast sponsors about the annual feast offering, recorded after the feast. They describe the practice of Zhakchang where people gather to finish the leftover wine and food from ritual ceremonies. While having tea, they discuss the feature course of the feast. Mr. Cheten expresses his concern that future generations will not know how buckwheat is traditionally cultivated.

Tshong Tshongma is a sacred mountain and a local deity in Eastern Bhutan. Over 4000 meters in elevation, it is accessible only four months per year due to local customs. Mr. Lama Tshering describes how Tshong Tshongma got its current palace after being deceived by Samye Paygi Gyelpo when Guru Rinpoche called all the deities to the allocated respective palace.

Tshong Tshongma is a sacred mountain and a local deity in Eastern Bhutan. Over 4000 meters in elevation, it is accessible only four months per year due to local customs. Mr. Lama Tshering describes how Tshong Tshongma got its current palace after being deceived by Samye Paygi Gyelpo when Guru Rinpoche called all the deities to the allocated respective palace.

Tshong Tshongma is a sacred mountain and a local deity in Eastern Bhutan. Over 4000 meters in elevation, it is accessible only four months per year due to local customs. Mr. Lama Tshering describes how Tshong Tshongma got its current palace after Tshong Tshongma was deceived by Samye Paygi Gyelpo when Guru Rinpoche called all the deities to the allocated respective palace.

Tshong Tshongma is a sacred mountain and a local deity in Eastern Bhutan. Over 4000 meters in elevation, it is accessible only four months per year due to local customs. Mr. Lama Tshering describes how Tshong Tshongma got its current palace after Tshong Tshongma was deceived by Samye Paygi Gyelpo when Guru Rinpoche called all the deities to the allocated respective palace.

Sonam Wangchuk, Cheten Tshering, and Chador discuss various utensils used in the past when conducting a feast offering. They say their parents share the same ancestral route. Their parents used to borrow utensil feast offerings because they couldn't purchase them. Cheten Tshering shows the new box to keep cups, mugs, and plates when not in use.

Mr. Sonam Wangchuck, one of the cooks and sponsors of the annual feast, discusses the preparations for the feast with a group. Seven households from Bamchang and Rinzentangpang villages sponsor the feast every year. Here he is preparing butter tea for the monks involved in feast offerings.

Conversation at the annual feast offering, one of the main events for Dakpa communities in Thragom, Rinzentangpang, and Bamchuang. This year, it was held in Rinzentangpang. They use rudimentary stoves to prepare meals. Here they are discussing what meals to serve to the monks and the general public who will come for the blessing, such as dry fish and cheeses.

Conversations and beginning of the long life blessing by His Eminence Tsheten Zangpo at Rinzentangpang Tshokhang. People discuss the process of receiving a blessing and what they have to offer in return. Some people offer cash as gratitude for the blessing from His Eminence.

Performance of the long-life blessing by His Eminence Tsheten Zangpo, a revered religious master in the Trashiyangtse district of Bhutan. The event took place in Rinzentangpang Tshokhang after a three day long feast offered by the community in the name of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha for the well-being of the community and all the sentient beings in all endeavors. It is believed that receiving this blessing enhances one's life force and clears all unforeseen obstacles.