Annual Bhutan Folk Festival
 |
| Day 1: December 13, 2008 |
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
| 9:00 AM | The inaugural ceremony of the Bhutan Folk Festival. This will be carried out with the Zhugdrel Phuensum Tshogpa (traditional welcome ceremony) in the presence of tourists, participants and the local community. |
9:30 AM | Conferring of Tashi Khadar (white scarf of goodwill and purity) to tourists (guests) by the Lam (High priest) with prayers for good luck (Tashi Moenlam). |
9:50 -1:00 PM | Commencement of Khuru (traditional dart game) and Degor (stone discus) tournaments.
Exhibition of the making of Bhutanese traditional sports equipment and sale. The historical background of these indigenous games will also be explained to the viewers. |
1:00 -2:00 PM | Coinciding with lunch, a traditional food festival will be organised. Traditional cuisine from different gewogs (sub-districts) of Punakha District. Prizes for best food will be awarded (local cuisine items) |
2:00 -3:00 PM | Competition on Rice and Butter Measurement with traditional measuring scales such as Drey and Sang (tourists can participate in the competition) |
3:00 -4:00 PM | Awarding of Prizes to the Rice and Butter measurement winners will be followed by Traditional dances (Boedra and Zhungdra) |
4:00 -5:00 PM | BREAK |
5:00-7:00 PM | A traditional drama showcasing various kinds of Bhutanese dress from ancient to present times will be staged |
7:00 -8:00 PM | Traditional rituals for victory will be performed in preparation of the next day’s Archery Tournament (gathering in the camp, performing rituals, hiring priests and astrologers to suppress the opponents) |
 |
| Day 2: December 13, 2008 |
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
| 7:30 -8:00 AM | Arrival of participants and tourists for the Archery Tournament |
8:00 -9:00 AM | Guests & Archers will join a procession to make a round in an auspicious direction traditionally known as Drachhen Korni. |
9:00- 12:00 Noon | Archery Tournament will begin with Marchang ceremony. Besides the demonstration on making traditional bow and arrow & accessories, the products will also be sold. |
12:00- 1:00 PM | Victory celebration by the winners of the Archery Tournament |
1:00- 2:00 PM | Lunch will be served in a traditional manner by the family members of the two archery teams. The tourists present will be divided into groups and served lunch by the families. As per tradition & culture, Soelra (prizes) will be awarded to the family members of both the teams who serve lunch |
2:00- 4:00 PM | Competition on traditional grinding and sieving of rice & maize (corn) with traditional implements amongst the gewogs (tourists can also participate in the competition) |
4:00-4:30 PM | Awarding of prizes to the winners. The programme will come to an end with traditional songs and dances (tourists can also sing their local songs). |
4:30- 7:00 PM | BREAK |
7:00- 9:00 PM | Traditional & Modern songs and dances will be performed for the guests & audience. |
 |
| Day 3: December 15, 2008 |
| TIME | PROGRAMME |
| 7:00- 7:30 AM | Arrival of the Lam (high priest), guests & participants. |
7:30-8:30 AM | The Lam & monks will perform Jabthrue & Kago with Mechham (Fire Dance) for protection from evil spirits |
8:30-4:00 PM | Kagyur Lingkor: as per existing tradition, Guests & participants will carry Kagyur (religious Buddhist scripts) starting from Punakha-Tabab Chhorten- Pepchu Village- Lungtsigang- Dongkakha Village- Nubgang and way back to Punakha Dzong via Yongu Village and Logodama School. On the way, the villagers will receive blessings & and offer Chhemar (flour and butter) & Soelja Dresi (traditional tea and butter rice)/Tea/snacks. |
12:00- 1:30 PM | Lunch will be served by the local community in Nobgang. During the lunch break, some traditional games competition such as Parey Sherey, Pung-dho, Chhap-chha, Ke-shi, Langthabni will take place. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. |
1:30- 4:00 PM | Kanjur Lingkor procession returns to Punakha. |
4:00-4:30 PM | Conclusion ceremony of Kanjur Lingkor. Tashi Khadhars will be presented to the tourists & participants with prayers for good luck, good health and prosperity (Tashi Moenlam ) |
4:30- 5:00 PM | BREAK |
5:00- 7:00 PM | Tsang-Mo (traditional singing involving repartee usually between the sexes) will be staged. The folk festival will conclude with traditional songs, dances & the performance of the Tashi-Lebey (Concluding dance) in which all the participants and guests will have to join. |
|
