News from Bhutan

Every now and then, I have the pleasure of receiving an email from a French lady working in the little Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. I always love to receive these little glimpses into a place so different and odd, so warm and delightful, thrown from the middle ages into the 21st century within one generation.
Although it rarely features in our media, in this little country, the King recently abdicated and passed the throne on to his son, in light of the country's transition to a constitutional democracy, which also happened this year.
And now, he is to receive his coronation:

Celebrations to be held on November 6, 7, 8

His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo will don the Raven Crown and formally assume the embodiment of the Supreme Protector.

In Buddhist history, the King was called the Protector Of The People, The Great Elected One, The Upholder Of The Law. In contemporary Bhutan, His Majesty will be the protector of the nation’s security, the guardian of the Constitution, and the inspiration for Gross National Happiness.

His Majesty will receive the sacred dhar of empowerment [...] in the inner sanctum of the Punakha Dzong [a Dzong being a large monastery compound] at an auspicious date.

The nation will celebrate the enthronement in Thimphu [the capital of Bhutan] on November 6, the eighth day of the ninth month of the earth male rat year, when the people will have the opportunity to offer the tashi khaddar [??] to the Druk Gyalpo. [...]

The prime minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley, announced that three enlightened astrologers had studied the stars to select the most auspicious dates and His Majesty the King had granted his approval. This was announced yesterday at Tashichhodzong amidst a special gathering that represented all sections of Bhutanese society.

[...] according to the prime minister [...] "It will be an event that will radiate the creation of more opportunities for our people to pursue happiness through the goal of Gross National Happiness.”

The Coronation brings the year-long celebrations of 2008 to a peak.

By Rinzin Wangchuk, in Bhutan's newspaper Kuensel on 23 July 2008