11 February, 2008 - The Male Earth Rat Year, which began from February 8, will be blessed with timely rainfall and the country’s leaders and people will enjoy good health according to the datho (astrological calender) com-piled by the Institute of Astrology in Pangrizampa, Thimphu.
However, crop yield will be less because of damage by wind and thieves who will make it difficult for farmers to reap fruitful yields.
There are also possibilities of dispute and conflict among com-munities, families, relatives and siblings according to the datho.
The datho recommends that any important work or new ventures should be started by a male or female born in the year of Earth Tiger (11 year old) or by Wood Tiger (35 years) or female born in the year of Iron Dog (39 years) or Iron Ox (48 years) or by a male born in the year Wood Sheep (54 years). Anything started by these five Lotag will bring successful achievements, according to the datho.
The symbolic good direc-tion is south and west. While starting new ventures or starting some important task, the datho recommends facing these two directions.
People born in the year of the Rat are considered Rangkek or Lodho (bad year) and people born in the years of Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Bird and Rabbit are vulnerable to risk. The datho recommends appropriate preventive religious ceremonies.
The Rat year will end on February 24, 2009.
