April 16: Zhabdrung Kuchoe, the death anniversary of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel is observed on the 10th day of the third Bhutanese month every year.
At the Puna-Dewa-Chenpoi-Phodrang yesterday, the monks of the central monastic body led by His Holiness the Je Khenpo performed an elaborate sungchoed known as the lam Choebi sungchoed.
The ceremony was graced by His Majesty the King. Their Royal Highnesses the Princes Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck and Dasho Jigme Dorji Wangchuck also attended the ceremony.
Speaking to BBS the Tshengay Lopen of the central monastic body said the lam Choebi sungchoed was initiated by Lam Dupthob Lingchen Repa. He said Zhabdrung Kuchoe is an important day in the Bhutanese calendar.
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel is revered as the founding father of Bhutan. In addition to unifying the country, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel also introduced a distinctly Bhutanese cultural identity and established the dual system of government under which the control of the country was shared between a spiritual leader and an administrative leader.
Here in the capital, residents visited Lhakhangs and goendeys including the national memorial chorten and the Changangkha Lhakhang as the nation observed Zhabdrung Kuchoe.
Government offices and schools in the kingdom remained closed for the day to observe the death Anniversary of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. In Thimphu, hundreds of people were seen visiting lhakhangs and circumambulating Chorten as a way to pay homage to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Changangkha Lhakhang saw a huge crowd of people, most of them new parents.
In Semtokha, the sheydra performed Lam choep and Geonpo chamdrel sum Tshokor to mark the day. Simtokha Dzong is one of the first dzongs built by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 16th century. The dzong today houses a sheydra and the institute for language and cultural studies. The Simtokha dzong is also getting a major face lift after it was last renovated by choejay Minjur Tempa.
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