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. Time-aligned translation into English.

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.

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. Time-aligned translation into English.

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.

Group performance of Bon rituals to appease Tshong Tshongma, the most sacred mountain in Eastern Bhutan, which is accessible only for four months per year due to local customs and myths. At over 4000m, Tshong Tshongma is a very important deity, especially to the people in its vicinity. In this recording, a group of around 30 visitors, including children, performs rituals to appease Tshong Tshongma including serving meals, offering locally-fermented wine, bowing, and praying for the well-being of all sentient beings.

Gurma, the song of feasts, is sung by monks, nuns, and lay practitioners in veneration of their masters. This song was composed by His Holiness Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, a 20th-century Buddhist master born in Pemako in the frontier region of Tibet. The song enchanted the people's request towards the tutelage deities and the local duties for the construction of a monastery. It includes a student's heartfelt request to the master to forever bestow his blessing upon them. The song is significant in the Dakpa community of Thragom village because many lay practitioners, including women, are into the Tröma (wrathful practice) of Mache Trhoma Namo (Black Wrathful Mother).

Mr. Sonam Wangchuk performs Ngô rituals in the name of all the sponsors for the feast offering. Ngô is the dedication of merits in the name of sponsors. At the end of every ritual ceremony, the sponsors of the ceremony dedicate merits to all the sentient beings and the success of one's life in any future endeavor. He is praying on behalf of his fellow sponsors in front of His Eminence Tsheten Zangpo.

His Eminence Tsheten Zangpo has been the head of the annual feast in Rinzentangpang for over 25 years. In this recording, a lay monk distributes the Tshok (feast offering), sanctified through the prayers. Later, the remaining Tshok is distributed to the public.

Tashi Dorji introduces himself and describes a childhood accident where he lost his mother, brother, and family home to a major fire. Somehow, Tashi survived. After this, he became known as 'Kon Tshering' in the village because 'Kon' means a rare thing or substance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Time-aligned translation into English.

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. Time-aligned translation into English.

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.

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.

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.