Commemorating Zhabdrung Kuchoe at Samtse College of Education
Coinciding with the Zhabdrung Kuchoe and the 400th Anniversary of the establishment of Dratshang Geydoen, the college organized Jigten Wangchuk prayer recitation in the Rigsum Gonpo Hall. Bhutan commemorates the day on the 10th day of the third Bhutanese month every year to pay homage to Zhabdrung as the leader who united the country.
According to the organizers, the team received a good amount of monetary contribution from the college fraternity this year. Volunteers comprising faculty, staff, and students recited the Jigten Wangchuk prayer for almost five hours. It is said that Jigten Wangchuk is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The recitation will proffer blessings that will benefit the country and the people.
Further, the organizers shared that program like this in particular are organized for the students to understand the significance of Zhabdrung and how unity has been brought to the country. The organizers were also happy to see a larger headcount than they had expected for the recitation.
One of the students who were a part of the recitation shared that she was fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the college to pay her respects and gratitude to Zhabdrung Rinpoche for uniting Bhutan as one nation and bringing peace to the country. The day is declared a government holiday in Bhutan for the citizens to engage in prayers.
Zhabdrung Kuchoe marks the day when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal passed away at the Punakha Dzong in 1651.
This event is one of the many prayer events initiated in the college on auspicious days.
Phuntsho Choden Tenzing
BASW III
