The coronation begins
17 October 2008
As excitement builds for the official coronation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, behind the scenes, the mystical century-old process has already begun.
The ceremony on November 6 is the final, public ceremony, what is known as the outer aspect of Chi Nang-Sang Sum (strictly interpreted as Inner, Secret and Outer Coronation or more loosely as sacred and public coronation).
It is believed that the date for the traditional ceremony is November 1, In Punakha. The quiet, sacred ceremony takes place in the Machhen Zimchung, the abode of the machhen of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
According to Thimphu author, Tshering Tashi, who has investigated the mystical coronation traditions for a forthcoming book, it is a profoundly private ceremony attended only by the King and the Je Khenpo. “The ceremony is deeply rooted in its ancient tradition. But beyond that, little is known,” said Tshering.
Tshering’s book reveals details from the official coronation programme for the Fourth King, which explains that it is at this ceremony that the new King receives the five-coloured scarf of office. That is the true moment of his ascension as Druk Gyalpo.
“The actual moment of coronation will be when the King, takes from the altar of the inner chapel of the machhen the five-coloured scarf of the King of Bhutan and dons it.” In addition to wearing the five-coloured scarf, the King symbolically wears the namza.
The Chamberlain of the fourth King, Dorji Gyeltshen, oversaw the coronation in 1974 and is also overseeing His Majesty’s coronation this year. He explains, “The Je Khenpo conducts ancient rituals offering symbols of kingship to the King.”
After the sacred coronation ritual, a more public but still relatively closed religious ceremony is conducted in the kuenra of the Punakha Dzong with the royal family, government officials and the public of the neighbouring dzongkhags.
The public coronation is widely celebrated and usually held in the Tashichhodzong, Thimphu. On the morning it takes place, the King is escorted to the dzong in a grand ceremonial procession. Guests receive the King into the dzong where the official investiture ceremony begins in the Golden Throne room before the King joins his people to celebrate in the national stadium.
According to the wishes of King Jigme Khesar, the public coronation will be kept simple and intimate. His Majesty wished to minimise government expenditure and also ensure that he celebrates the centenary and coronation with the people of all dzongkhags. He will travel and country and join the people in celebrating our past and praying for an auspicious future.
As per the customary trait of the Kings, there will be no grand international representation and pageantry. Nevertheless, these landmarks in our history will remain indelibly etched in the hearts and minds of all the people.
By Phuntsok Rabten
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Loading ...Zakar for Friday July 30 2010
20th Day of the 06th Month - Iron Male Tiger Year
Auspicious for: Carrying out daily chores and making offerings.
Inauspicious for: Starting construction of new house, sowing seeds, planting flowers, entering the new house, shifting houses, calling upon superiors, starting business, doing charity works in the name of deceased, taking out dead bodies, paying grain debts, undertaking long journey and holding discussion.
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I am excited and am really looking forward to witnessing history cascade right infront of me. However, something looms over me every second of my life on the fate of my brother serving a long prison term. I pray and hope that there will be Royal pardon for most prisoners during this forthcoming golden event. Just like me I am sure this thought is on everyone’s mind whose brother or sister, dad or mom, wife or husband, son or daughter, relative or friends are serving time. What more important event can there be in a history of a nation where a coronation and centinery celebrations take place at the same time. I take this oportunity to post this with all humility.
I agree partly with malaka. People who are languishing in prison for pardonable reasons may be released coinciding with the historic event but this should not be extended to those involved in treason or such offence that has harmed the very foundation of this land and the society. I believe from my experiences that like a tiger who doesnot change its spot, even people hardly change for the better. Malaka, if your dear ones, if any is languishing in jail for petty reasons, I pray for their release with you but at the same time, I also say a silent prayer not to release those falling in the other catagory.
Dear Malaka
As much as I wish your dear ones to be free, I also pray for everlasting peace and prosperity of our nation under the leadership of our kings. If your dear ones are in the jail beacuse of some petty stuffs, then I think he/she will surely be pardoned during this historic event, but like Laygman said you should nott aspect and he/she should never be pardoned if he/she is there because of trying to harm this very foundationof peace and prosperity in our motherland.
Dear Malaka,
As much as u wish for ur dear ones to be free,……I also look forward for my dear one who has been serving his sentence for last 4 n half yrs now.since i was not in a position to bring up my kids.They are separated from each other.I hope n look forward that this historic celebration will unite us all again.
Dear Malaka,
I wish u all the best for your brother and may this historic celebration brings u all the best……..My prayers n good wishes are always there for u,…..malaka
I know people are rationale creature who are capable to learn from mixtake they have commited. I pray all those who are serving prison (intentionally and unintentionally )may be perdoned during this forthcoming event by the king who’s love and affection towards people are so real and truely embedded in his heart……Although i donot have any one dear serving in prison , thats what i feel.
Cheers
Thanks for your responses and good wishes.
Here, I would like to reiterate that I am a true Bhutanese in every sense of the word, aware of the National security issues, and I love my country more than I can say. The prisoners of petty crimes will be released undoubtedly but it is for those under more serious crimes that need our prayers and the compassion of our beloved King. As mentioned by Lagyman, it is the ‘category’ which makes the difference. However, a prisoner incarcerated under a category doesn’t mean that he had actually committed the crime, but may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and may not have had the means or opportunity to defend his charges professionally. However, all I can do now is to pray and hope for the best for my brother and others to be free again to be with their loved ones and more importantly to bring up their children, look after their aged parents and be good and productive citizens.
Cheers
yes taht great movement will be most compassion to all being on earth, may plden druk serve our kingdom for ever , and no one will losse hope on that great event of our history,
“UNIQUENESS OF DRYANG YAM AND DRANGDEN”
Journey of thousand miles start with single step. Similarly happiness of a nation also counts from the happiness of a single person. Like wise some loved ones or breadwinners of a family is missed rest of the family members multiplied by their relatives and welwishers are put in misery this happiness amongest them is lost.
Happiness, therefore, to the few people around the roundtable and on revulving chairs cannot be considered as a criateron to qualify the nation to celebrate Gross National Happiness. Unless every member of the family are present hand in hand and shoulder in shoulder to cheer up the nation’s celebration for such an important ever in history of nation which had never happened before nor will happen again in the future as wel, how one can expect happiness on every citizens face.
Hence Bhutan being unique in all aspect, like uniqueness in liadership, uniqueness in politics, uniqueness in leligion, uniqueness in vison and thought should free all the prisoners irrespective of the crime, on this special occassion to set an unique example of egalitarianism to the rest of the world.