Culture: Many people today do not know what a Tashi Gomang is.

Tashi Gomang can be loosely translated as the “many doors of good fortune”.

Viewing the Tashi Gomang is considered the equivalent of visiting a lhakhang.

Lam Manip, Thuba, 51 from Simphu Gonpa in Nubi Gewog, Trongsa said the tradition of taking the Tashi Gomang to the villages has died out.

People in the villages helped carry the Tashi Gomang to other villages. Tashi Gomangs were kept at the letshen’s (messenger) house.

The Lam Manip explained that the letshens informed the people about the arrival of the Tashi Gomang in the village. People were called to come to his house to recite mani at night.

The letshen provided meals to Lam Manip.

The Lam Manip also recited mani and blew the conch shell once they reached the letshen’s house.

Reciting the mani and blowing of the conch shell announced the Tashi Gomang’s presence. But letshens still had to personally go and inform the people owing to the rugged terrain of the country.

The Lam Manip accompanies the Tashi Gomang and leads the mani recitation.

Doors of the Tashi Gomang are opened with reciting of mani.

People also make offerings – money and scarves for the wellbeing of both the dead and the living. People also offer grains that are called Soelnyom Choendru.

The Lam Manip takes the grains and the money offered while silk scarves are later offered to the lhakhangs as namza for the statues.

“There were not many lhakhangs in the villages then and taking the Tashi Gomangs across the villages was considered sacred,” Lam Manip, Thuba said.

Thuba became a Lam Manip at the age of 21.

Nima Wangdi | Bumthang