Local Festival Blessed Rainy Day.docx

Festival

1. Blessed Rainy Day


Introduction
The Blessed Rainy Day or Thruebab festival is an important and special cultural
event in Bhutanese culture where Bhutanese people across the country celebrate
the day with much enthusiasm and energy. This festival marks the end of
monsoon season as per lunar calendar, observed mainly in the eastern districts.
It literally means the descend of blessed water and refers to the blessing which
falls on the waters on earth. On this day all the natural water resources in the
country are considered to be sanctified by the cosmic Buddha Mahavairocana
and therefore, people all around Bhutan are encouraged to take an outdoor bath
from divine rain water collected overnight to be cleaned of bad deeds,
obstructions and destructions and accumulated bad karma of a person. Although
it is celebrated all over Bhutan but different regions celebrate the day in their
own culture and customs.
On this day all the government offices, schools and institutions are closed. The
most auspicious hour of the ablution is determined by astrologer in the service
of the Je Khenpo, the chief abbot of the country. Blessed rainy day is celebrated
in every region of our country. Particularly, people of Phobjikha also celebrate
the day with grand events where every family gather together to mark the day.

2. The blessed Rainy Day falls on 15
th
day of 8
th
month in the Buddhist calendar,
probably on late September. According to Buddhist cosmology, among the
planets and stars, there is a star named Thukar (khrus-skar)- Rishi which shines
six months’ day and six months’ night at the half of the axis of Wangchhen Riyi
Gyalpo Rirab (dbang-chhen rihi-rgyal-po ri-rab) (Dorji, 2008, p, 133).
The gods (lha), nagas (klu), yaksas (gnod-sbyin) and rishis (drang-srong) made
a statue of Gyalwa Nampar Nangdzey (rgyal ba rnam-pa snang-mdzad)-
Vairocana, one of the five Buddha families in the ocean situated to the south of
Golden Mountains (suvarnaparvata) with different kinds of precious objects
and gems (ratna) and especially the crown protusion (unisa) called Uyi Tsugtor
(dhubi gtsug-gtor) was made of gem called “moonstone” or Norbu Chhushel
(nor-bu chhu-shel) having power of emitting water at the sight of the moon. The
planet Rishi passes through the statue of Vairocana once in a year during the 8
th

month according to Bhutanese Lunar Calendar and it is used to take one whole
week for the planet to cross the statue. During these seven days and nights,
nectar or Dudtsi (bdud-rtsi)- amrita used to emerge continuously from the
crown protusion (unisa) and fall into all the river and oceans or water bodies
turning them into nectar. As such, it is very auspicious to take bath during this
week which will guard off all evil spirits, improve one’s health, fetch good luck,
long life and prosperity (Dorji, 2008, p, 133).
Bhutanese celebrate the first day of the Thruebab. All relatives and intimate
friends get together and go to picnic and rejoice the day making it a remarkable
one.
Purpose or significance of the festival
 The main purpose or the significance of celebrating this festival is to get
rid of bad deeds, obstructions, destructions and bad karma of a person,
where all the natural water resources in the country are considered to be

3. sanctified by the cosmic Buddha Mahavairocana and people all around
Bhutan are encouraged to take an outdoor bath from divine rain water
collected overnight.
 Is the festival which will contribute in enhancing and preserving our
oldage culture and tradition which is also one of the pillars of Gross
National Happiness.
 Blessed Rainy Day is a festival that provides families, relatives, friends,
love ones and neighbours a precious time to bond together and cheer the
day and also take a break from their daily routines which will enhance
community vitality.
 This festival marks the end of the monsoon season and farming season
and the beginning of the harvest in Bhutan.
Celebrating the festival
On this day, all offices are closed and are officially declared as a national
holiday as to celebrate the day with their families, relatives and friends in their
own ways, incorporating their unique cultures and traditions. Moreover, in order
to take break from their daily routine of works. Likewise, the day is celebrated
in my village, phobjikha under Wangdi Phodrang Dzongkhag where all people
celebrate by getting together with the families, parents, relatives and friends. A
night before the festival, people keep buckets filled with water and variety of
flowers sprinkled over the bucket of water in an open area as to receive holy
precipitation from the heaven or the sacred rain water to take bath or shower on
the actual day to purify all bad karma, obstructions and defilements. Moreover,
all the relatives gather for preparation by chopping meats, vegetables and other
necessary things. Therefore, Thruebab or Blessed Rainy Day is one of the
special and important festivals in my village.

4. On this day, unlike other festivals, all the family members and relatives gather
and it serves to be a family get together opportunity. The father of the family is
the main coordinator and is also often the chef for the day. The family cooks
and enjoys various items starting with early porridge. The father usually wakes
up before the dawn to prepare for the day and he gets ready with delicious
porridge (thup) while all family members helps in other necessary things. Prior
having porridge all families are embarked in bathing. After that, father offers
porridge to the ‘Triple gem’ on the altar for the well-being of all sentient beings,
then they enjoy having porridge.
After having porridge, all the family members start to prepare breakfast.
Breakfast should be better than the food we eat in other days. It includes beef,
pork, chicken, fish and other vegetables items like cheese and butter.
After having breakfast, men from different households get together for
traditional games and sports (archery, khuru and degor) tournament in my
village. Where they come up with their own team with equal member and
collect fee from the players which they keep as a prize for the winning team.
Later, the winning team goes for picnic with that money. And sometimes they
continuously play the tournament for three days. Those who do not take part in
tournament gives them company and women come with packed lunch and
locally brewed alcohol as a refreshment.
The day goes on with various entertainments till the sun goes down and they
move from one households to another to have drinks. They sing and dance for
couple of minutes and keep moving till they get exhausted. This is the only day
where people living in the rural area like Phobjikha get an opportunity to rejoice
their hard work with their families, relatives and neighbours. The celebration
continues for few days in my village where men who are good at traditional
games keep on playing.

5. However, now due to modernization and increase in the rate of rural to urban
migration people in my village do not pay much interest in celebrating this kind
of festival and our culture is slowly fading out losing its importance and value.
Unlike in the past, people in my village seem to exhibit less excitement and joy
for such festival and even if the people gather they give more importance in
mingling with their smart phones and posting in social media where they don’t
really enjoy, communicate and celebrate which results in fading community
vitality. Now, I rarely see boys and men playing traditional games for several
days but they now only play for a day. In the past people in my village
celebrates this festival for three days, in which men continue with their
tournament and other community people would also join the any kinds of
traditional games and sports.
Personal Experience
As per my experience I feel, the culture and traditions that have been passed by
our legendary forefathers are now degrading. When I was a child, that particular
festival was known to be the most exciting moment. People think of wearing
new national dress, gho and kira. But these days, people are not really conscious
about the new dresses rather they go for fancy pants and shirts especially the
youth which is a threat to our culture. Another thing is, in olden days, people
rejoice the day with family talking, singing and dancing but nowadays people
are drowning in modern technology like social media. Instead of giving time for
their families and relatives, they spend lonely time in bedroom chatting with
unknown people. Moreover, when I was small I remember traditional games
and sports were played widely but nowadays we can see rather modern games
like football and volleyball are played by youths. I personally feel it is causing a
threat to our customs and it is individual responsibility to overcome such
threats.

6. Conclusion
Blessed Rainy Day is the holiday marking the end of the monsoon season in
Bhutan. Families traditionally gather for a meal of thup (porridge) followed by
breakfast and lunch. During this festival people across Bhutan take bath and get
blessing from the rains which they consider as holy and special. Rain helps
people to cleanse bad deeds, obstructions and destructions. It is also very
important day for family and relatives to cherish the moments together and to
create good memories.