The year 2015 has been fruitful one with so many memories to cherish. It has also taught many lessons through my challenging bygone days. The surrounding around has made me strong enough to be bold and to face obstacles in life.

Among all, one of the remarkable events was in February; attending convocation with the friends at Thimphu after completion of Diploma in Agriculture representing College of Natural Resources. It’s one of the golden opportunities to attend and receive the certificates of completion of course from His Majesty. 

RDC-Wengkhar in Action

In addition, 60^th Birthday celebration of K4 at Mongar public ground was memorable as well. It is indeed a good opportunity to participate in March pass representing RNR-RDC Wengkhar. The charm of our celebration altered to entertaining one compared to past event. Civil servants and business individuals taking part in March pass will be remarkable one dedicated to the 60^th birthday celebration.

The programme arranged by the Dzongkhag was fascinating with different cultural programme by the students, civil servants, business individuals and farmers from different geog were shown. It’s the good opportunity where participants are able to show their talents in dancing after long run in their busy daily schedule. Grasping the opportunity to participate in cultural programme after college days was refreshing indeed.

Being under Horticulture sector, most of the bygone days were spent in the field conducting and monitoring trails on vegetables& fruits and recording data for analysis.

Furthermore, December month has been tiring and busiest one moving from one geog to another under Pemagatshel and Mongar Dzongkhag in delivering technical support to the interested farmers in development of orchard in their farm. Farmers were supported through different programs like Citrus focused village, Pear village, Sub-tropical mixed fruit orchard and systematic demo orchard initiated by the centre.

 My team begin with site verification followed by layout and training which includes pit digging demonstration and orchard management practices starting from Pangthang village under Chhimoong geog to Laneri and Durungri under Dungmaed geog in P/gatshel followed by Yangbari village under Gongdue geog in monger and back to Rinchenthang under Chhokhorling geog followed by Nanong geog under Pemagatshel Dzongkhag. Farmers were briefed on the importance of developing orchards in their farm and they were given training on orchard management practices mainly to create awareness and gain knowledge on importance of maintaining a good orchard in their farm. Completing layout for 131 farmers with a total of 2294 seedlings to be planted will be one of the greatest achievements in the year supporting rural farmers through research centre.

Besides my daily routine, visiting to the new places mainly the places of historic event was of my interest. I made some visits to the religious sites in the eastern dzongkhags accompanied by my friends.

It was in December, days have been passed delivering technical support to the interested farmers under Pemagatshel dzongkhag who opt for orchard development in their farm. The technical support includes site verification, orchard layout and training on orchard management practices as it’s the favorable time that ease orchard layout.

My team reached at one of the peaceful place called Yangbari village under Gongdue geog in Mongar connected by Wangchuk zam via Durungri, Dungmaed under Pemagatshel dzongkhag. The village consist of 50 households speaking different dialect which includes Shashop, Khengpa and Gongdup.

Gazing over sub-tropical fruit trees like arecanut plantation in rows and oblong papaya fruits hanging on the trees were some of the good observation that sustain beautiful scenery of Yangbari village. It was by coincidence that we were at Yangbari on Ngenpa Guzom eve that obstruct our work to be done next day as they grandly celebrate Ngenpa Guzom.

Wild Potato Soup

The next morning, as I opened the window a fresh air around and lovely dew drops over the green leaves filled my heart with sense of joy. The day started having hot morning bed tea served by the hospitable host at Toa tshogpas house followed by delicious soup prepared from wild Potato. Soup is considered very special by the Khengpas that they have to go in search for wild potato in the forest a day before Nyenpa Guzom. Having yummy soup for the first time that taste very good will be memorable one and a memory to cherish in future.

By then, host is ready to serve us lunch arranged in a special way. They prepared Bhutanese red rice with varieties of curry including non-veg and vegetable curry. Eating together is must that all are gathered for lunch followed by drinks and all. Although I am in a new place detached from family, I could feel some close attachment with host the way they treat us.

Kolokpa Game

As I wander around the Yangbari village, I could see individuals busy enjoying the day. A team of Archers on one side and a group of men playing Degor in another and even two groups of ladies enjoying Kolokpa. It is a new game for me where two team competes for hitting the arranged dried fruit seed. A team who is able to hit all the dried fruit seed is considered as winner. They do hit from a distance in turn wise so that all can get equal opportunity. They already keep bet within the group either on cash or dinner etc. Eventually day ends with enjoyment, getting together with friends and relatives. Nevertheless, Kolokpa teams go for Changkor in the evening that includes dancing and singing while moving house to house, in return host serve them drinks. It is indeed a good moment getting together with friends and neighbours.

 Being able to celebrate Ngenpa Guzom with the people of Yangbari was enjoyable indeed where one could learn the culture and traditions of the community.