Folklore Chronicles from Bhutan

Tsongpoen Tashi and his Donkey.

In the era when Bhutan depended heavily on salt exports from Tibet, there resided a salt merchant named Tashi. He owns a donkey to transport salt across the formidable Himalayas to reach the Bhutanese market. During this time, there was no printed money or coins; instead, goods were exchanged through barter. Bhutanese traders transported rice, knives, and other items not found in Tibet, exchanging them for salt, clothing, and other commodities.

Tsongpoen Tashi and his donkey arrived in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet at the time. Tsongpoen Tashi traded a load of rice from Bhutan for salt, loaded his donkey, and commenced their journey back home. They spent a night at Phari, a resting place for many Bhutanese and Tibetan merchants before reaching Bhutan or Lhasa. Phari provided a perfect opportunity for them to rest and spend time with merchants from both countries.

The following day, Tsongpoen Tashi and the donkey pressed on with their journey under the intense heat of the sun. The donkey grew exhausted and devised a plan to lighten the load of salt to ease its walking. After hours of relentless walking without rest, they eventually reached the river, bringing them within half a day's reach of their destination.

The tired donkey intentionally slide into the river and feigned inability to walk. Tsongpoen Tashi hurried to rescue his only companion and the load of salt. Tashi exerted great effort to lift the donkey from the river, but no matter how hard he tried, the pretending donkey remained unconscious. Eventually, all the salt melted into the river, and the donkey was relieved of its heavy burden. Tsongpoen Tashi became angered by his donkey's actions but remained calm.

After a year, Tashonpoen Tashi gathered the most refined Bhutanese sheep's wool and loaded his donkey for their journey towards Tibet. Upon reaching the same spot where the donkey had melted all the salt into the river, the donkey thought to himself that this river had the ability to make his load disappear and make him free. The donkey pretended to slide into the river again and waited for the river to make his load of wool vanish. After a few minutes of staying in the river, he slowly stood up, hoping that his load would have disappeared. But to his dismay, his load became much heavier than its actual weight. The donkey had a tough time reaching Lhasa with a load of wool soaked in water for so long due to his selfish act.
བོང་ཀུ་ལུ་ཀྲེམ་བཅོ་བརྒྱད་ཡོདན།། ཚོང་དཔོན་ལུ་བཀོལ་ཐངས་བཅུ་དགུ་ཡོད།།

Unspoken Love Confession

Dangphu Dingphu......amidst the breathtaking expanse of Pemaling Valley, a girl graced the world with her presence, her beauty echoing like thunder across the globe. Her parents, overwhelmed with joy, welcomed the arrival of their baby girl, whose radiance resembled that of a blooming Lotus. They named her Yewangma, a reflection of her Lotus-like birth. Meanwhile, in a distant place, a boy was also born, yet destiny had intertwined their fates, decreeing that they would meet someday.
Growing up oblivious to each other's existence, they eventually found themselves drawn together by shared educational pursuits in the Southern foothill and in the Western part of country. Though their paths converged, the girl saw him only as a friend, while the boy harbored hopes of something more. Despite his persistent efforts to win her over, she remained unaware of his romantic intentions. Over time, his feelings deepened, tangled in the bittersweet reality of unrequited love.

Enduring the emotional turmoil, he finds solace in the bittersweet nature of his affection. One day, mustering all his bravery and resolve, he confessed his feelings and invited her for a walk. To his delight, she accepted the invitation. As they stroll down the beautiful place she shared a tale about two black-necked cranes from west and east. Emerging from its shell, a baby female black-necked crane was born in the serene west, while the male counterpart came into the world in east at a later time. They underwent rigorous training in preparation for the impending summer, when the birds must return to the snowy land. Despite their intense training, the female bird found it difficult to leave as she was deeply in love with the picturesque place. Even the thought of leaving without her beloved parents brought tears to her eyes. She was apprehensive about flying over the northern Himalayas to Tibet, so she decided to head towards Ladakh instead. However, parting from her parents was an incredibly challenging ordeal for her. As summer approached, all the black-necked cranes flew towards Tibet, with the cohort from east being the first to arrive. The young female from west remained uncertain about flying to Tibet. Struggling to contemplate flying far away and leaving her loved ones, she had no choice but to soar high and cross the northern Himalayas. Upon reaching Tibet, she and her parents arrived in the same vicinity as the other group from east. One morning, while the birds congregated, a young male caught sight of someone remarkably beautiful. He became entranced by her, swiftly diverting all his attention to the stunning young female crane. However, to his disappointment, she had no intention of falling in love, understanding that life is fleeting and not wanting to inflict the pain of departure upon him.

Yet, as their conversation unfolded, the ringing of her phone shattered the moment, signaling an abrupt interruption. Duty called, and she had to answer, leaving the boy yearning to hear the rest of her story. Despite the interruption, he bid her goodnight with a wistful heart, cherishing the fleeting moments of their shared evening.

Happy reading!

Dawa Drukpa.

མ་འོངས་པ་ཡི་མདུན་མ་བསུ།། མ་འོངས་པ་ཡི་མདུན་བསུ་ན།། ཟླ་བ་གྲགས་པའི་ཕ་དང་འདྲ།།

Dangphu Dingphu..modest man embarked on a begging journey, sustaining his life by wandering from place to place. On one occasion, he received a sack filled with rice grains. Filled with joy and contentment, he returned home and hung the rice sack above his bed to protect it from rats.

Later in the evening, he passed the night gazing at a sack of rice suspended over his bed, his mind flooded with myriad thoughts. In his mind's eye, he initially vendored the rice in the market, securing some earnings. Subsequently, he invested this sum in acquiring a cow.

In the world of fantasy, Mr. Dawa Drukpa milked a cow and commenced selling its produce in the local market, thereby attaining a substantial income. Consequently, he acquired another cow. Through persistent effort and diligence, he continuously expanded his jersey cow farm. With the flourishing reputation of his jersey cow farm, he emerged as a prosperous entrepreneur in his community.

Managing the farm single-handedly became challenging for him, as he juggled both household chores and farming responsibilities, making time management a struggle. Subsequently, he married a woman, and within a year of their union, they welcomed a son into their lives.

They enjoyed a remarkably affluent life, and their son matured amidst luxurious surroundings. Shielded by the constant pampering of Dawa Drukpa and his wife, he lived carefree, reassured by the belief that he was the sole child in their family.

Dawa Drukpa once requested his son's assistance in churning milk, but the son, unwilling to listen, provoked Dawa Drukpa's anger. In response, the furious father scolded his son, triggering the boy's wrath. In a moment of intense emotion, the son rushed towards his father with a knife in hand, skillfully wielding it in the air. Alarmed and anxious, Dawa Drukpa pleaded for help, only to find relief when he realized it was all a product of his imagination.

While Dawa Drukpa was lost in his thoughts, a rat had managed to reach the hanging sack by climbing along the rope. Unbeknownst to him, the industrious rat was busy nibbling away at the rope, aiming for a tasty meal of rice grains. Upon Dawa Drukpa's return from his daydream, the sack of rice plummeted as the rat successfully cut through the rope, unable to bear the weight. Tragically, Dawa Drukpa lost his life when the falling sack struck him with force.

Thank you and happy reading!

Friends, I kindly ask all of you to read the story and propose a fitting title for the tale.

Dangphu…. Dhingphu……….In a woodland, located half a league away from the main village, resides a content family of four. The hardworking father, akin to salt, diligently labors for his family's well-being. The mother, akin to butter, efficiently manages the household, creating a warm and welcoming environment. Their son, resembling an ant, assists his father with exterior tasks, making them seem effortless. To support the mother in domestic duties, their daughter, akin to cotton, excels in maintaining the home. The family presents a prosperous and industrious image, eliciting envy from many due to their happiness. They mutually support and confront challenges, often life-threatening, demonstrating their unity in the face of adversity.

On a beautiful day, Father Salt fell seriously ill, confining him to his bed. Now, it fell upon their son, Ant, to shoulder his father's responsibilities and work diligently. Initially hesitant, he reluctantly decided to toil for the well-being of his family. One day, his mother, Butter, instructed him to gather firewood. Engrossed in his task, he climbed a large pine tree, unaware that he was ensnared in its sap. Realizing his predicament, he stood momentarily dumbstruck, tears streaming down his face, fearing for his survival. Despite shouting for help, his cries went unheard, and he succumbed to suffocation.

At home, Mother Butter grew anxious as her son failed to return with the setting sun. Concerned, she instructed her daughter, Cotton, to find her brother. Searching everywhere, Cotton traversed the trails and woods without a trace of her brother. Finally, atop a hill, attempting to get a clearer view, a sudden gust of wind blew her off the hill. As night fell, both children missing, Mother Butter and Father Salt were distressed.

Despite his ailing condition, Father Salt ventured to the riverbank. Faced with a seemingly impossible crossing, he resolved to jump to a protruding rock. Unfortunately, slipping during the attempt, he dissolved and perished in the river. At home, with her family absent, Mother Butter, awaiting their return, inadvertently sat on a burning hearth, melting to an untimely dismise.

Thank you and happy reading!

Acho Tsagay.

(Like every tree emits peculiar scent, each man possesses a special talent)

Dangphu Dingphu....Zeko and his older brother Tsagay resided in a modest hut at the meeting point of two rivers. Due to his older brother's mental condition, Zeko was responsible for all the household chores.

Their village, located at the confluence, relied on cultivation for their subsistence crops. They grow subsistence crops such as potatoes, maize, wheat, and barley. During the summer, they sowed wheat and maize for the winter, and in the winter, they planted potatoes. One particularly snowy winter brought them hope for a bountiful harvest. Zeko approached Seldon's house to borrow a pair of oxen for plowing his field. "Hello, Seldon," Zeko said. "This year, Acho Tsagay and I plan to sow maize on our land, and we're in need of a pair of oxen. We would greatly appreciate it if you could lend us yours." Seldon, displaying kindness, agreed to lend them the oxen with one condition. "Please provide proper care and nutrition. I'm happy to help, but please return the oxen promptly after you finish your work, ensuring they're well taken care of," Seldon requested.

As the first sun rays of the day appeared, Zeko provided grass and water to a pair of oxen to begin their work. After having breakfast, Zeko and Acho Tsagay commenced their tasks. The day turned scorching hot, and at noon, Zeko requested Acho Tsagay to bring him icy water and lunch. While returning, Acho Tsagay encountered a cow dung on the way home. Despite several warnings, the dung remained immobile. Enraged, Acho Tsagay hurled a stone at it, causing it to splash all over and contaminate his uncovered lunch box. Anxious, Acho Tsagay rushed to a water tap and meticulously washed each grain of rice to ensure thorough cleanliness.

Upon witnessing this, Zeko instructed Acho Tsagay to tend to the oxen while he went home for lunch. Zeko specifically asked Acho Tsagay to prevent the oxen from moving. Agreeing to the task, Acho Tsagay warned the oxen not to budge, threatening to sever any moving body parts. A sudden fly buzzing around caused one of the oxen to twitch its ear, enraging Acho Tsagay. He swiftly drew his sword and severed the ox's ear. Writhing in pain, the ox moved its tail, leading Acho Tsagay to cut off the tail as well. Eventually, Acho Tsagay's actions resulted in the ox's demise.

Feeling anxious about the situation, Zeko was unsure how to approach Seldon. He devised a secret plan to leave the place, and that night, he packed all his belongings into a bamboo basket without Acho Tsagay noticing. Early the next morning, he left his village and Acho Tsagay behind, running away. After covering several miles, he took a short rest and thought about his brother. Zeko murmured, "I wonder what my Acho Tsagay is doing back there, I miss him." Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from his basket, saying, "I am here, Zeko, don't worry about me." Shocked by the sound, Zeko checked his basket, only to find Acho Tsagay inside, laughing at him. Acho Tsagay explained how he got inside the basket, and with conflicting thoughts in his mind, Zeko hugged his brother, and they continued their journey together.

As the weary sun set, they arrived at a place with a lone two-story house, yet found no signs of human presence. Entering, they waited for the owner in vain, until an strange voice echoed from the distant valley. Slowly, the sound drew closer, and peering out the window, they spotted three monsters with sinister eyes, wrinkled faces, and snakelike tails. Overcome with fear, they hurried downstairs and concealed themselves in a corner.
The monsters had gathered around the cooking stove when one of them remarked, "I can detect the aroma of tonight's meal, not too far from here." As their conversation continued, their tails dangled through the hole, catching the attention of Zeko and Acho Tsagay. Filled with amazement and curiosity, Acho Tsagay yearned to touch the tail. He quietly implored Zeko, "Can I touch the tail?" "No, please no. They will discover us and devour us," pleaded Zeko. However, Acho Tsagay persisted in his request, and eventually, Zeko relented, urging Acho to touch the tail slowly. With great excitement, Acho Tsagay tugged on the tail with all his might. As he pulled the monster down, it emitted a loud "Dug," and when the monster pulled him up, it made a "Pak" sound. "Dug, Pak... Dug, Pak..." The repetitive sound echoed for a while until the exhausted monster and its companions fled, never to return. Acho Tsagay's bravery and strength had saved the lives of Zeko and himself from the menacing monsters.

Thank you and happy reading!

Hunter and Indain gosseberry(Amla)

(Nothing appeared as we had expecte)

Dangphu Dingphu....In a small hamlet nestled between towering mountains and thick forests, there lived a family whose sole livelihood depended on hunting. Ap Dorji the head of family has to do hunting to feed his wife and two sons. Armed with his bow and a quiver full of poisoned arrows, he set out to hunt in the hills, valleys, and plains, braving the harsh winter cold or the heavy summer downpours. Despite challenging and tiring day he feel so respite when seeing his wife and kids beaming with joy when he returns.

One morning, Ap Dorji rose from his pillow just before dawn amid a heavy downpour. Despite a slip causing his cup to fall upside down, he pushed aside the unsettling feeling it brought which he considered to be a bad omen. After feeding his hunting dog the remnants of last night's meal, he slung his hunting sword and bow with a quiver full of arrows over his shoulders, and they set out. The weather appeared dreary, stirring up conflicting thoughts in his mind. Questions about past sins, the necessity of taking lives to sustain his own, and the possibility of tragedy befalling his family plagued him. An inner voice urged him to turn back, but he persisted, his mind racing with relentless unease.

He marched from the east to the west and crawled from the south to the north, yet found no trace of prey, unable to mark even a single footprint. Despite his exhaustion, he persevered with the hope of finding one. Underneath the lush green meadow, he discovered an Indian gooseberry (amla) plant teeming with a bountiful yield. Plucking one, he savored its taste. Craving hydration, he drank a gulp of water, surprised by its exceptional sweetness. Delighting in the flavor, he gathered a handful of Indian gooseberries, resolving to share the experience with his family, even though he couldn't bring any home that day. He removed all the arrows from his quiver and filled it with water from the same stream he had drunk from.

As the day gave way to dusk, Ap Dorji returned home with a handful of Indian gooseberries and a quiver brimming with water. He shared both with his family and took in his portion. After consuming the gooseberries, he cheerfully poured water from his quiver into a cup, urging them to relish the taste. Without thier knowledge, the water in the quiver had been poisoned by his hunting arrows. Before long, he and his family began to feel ill and started vomiting. Sadly, they all died after consuming the poisoned water from the quiver.

Tashi Delek and happy reading.

🌿📖 Dive into 'Nga Lu Soong Chi Tang' - Episode 15: “Ura Yakchoe” narrated in Dzongkha. 🏔️📚 This special book explores the fascinating Ura Yakchoe festival celebrated in Bumthang, and it's crafted by the talented students of Ura Central School, Bumthang. 🎉🖌️ Tune into BBS Channel 3 every other Thursday at 2 PM for this enriching series.

Watch the episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iJY-CnL5Ks

An intellegent orphan boy (Dhaw Bhutsu Rigpachen)

Dangphu Dingphu...In a small nation, there resided a benevolent king who governed his subordinates with kindness and compassion. His reign thrived, and the people relished enduring peace under his guidance. His palace perched above the valley, commanding a view of his realm, enveloped by flourishing meadows and blooming flowers.
The king has four competent and loyal ministers, one of whom is Lyenpo Sonam Zangpo. After the death of his wife, he raised his lone son by himself. One evening, on his way home from work, Lyenpo Sonam noticed a boy digging a hole in the road.
Stopping his horse, Lyenpo addressed the little boy, "Why are you digging a hole? Do you realize it could harm those passing by?" The boy cheerfully replied, "I know, but filling it up won't cause any harm to passersby." Startled by this response, the minister pressed further, asking, "Where are your parents?" To his dismay, the little boy responded, "I am an orphan". Upon hearing this, Lyenpo decided to adopt the young orphan as his own son, captivated by the boy's remarkable intelligence. Upon arriving home, he treated the orphan as if he were his biological child, watching his two sons grow together as brothers despite their differing bloodlines.

One day, an ordinary event occurred in the palace as three crows had been frequenting the palace for several weeks. Startled by this occurrence, the king instructed his five ministries to investigate the reason behind the prolonged circling of crows around the palace. Failing to uncover the cause might result in their losing their positions. Recognizing the weight of the king's command, which carried more significance than a mountain's burden, they commenced their investigation without considering the possibility of ignoring it, an action that would feel more significant than losing a fortune.

Upon returning from the palace, Lyenpo Sonam experienced a profound sense of disorientation and concern, walking towards his home as though he were carrying a burdensome load. Although his sons eagerly approached him with beaming smiles, he remained uninterested. Witnessing their father's distress, his adopted son inquired, "What's troubling you, Apa la?" Lyenpo recounted the palace incident, and he was stunned by his adopted son's response: "The leading crow in the trio was the husband, followed by his wife and the male crow causing turmoil in the once-harmonious family. They sought justice at the palace."
Overcome with happiness, Lyenpo embraced his son in relief and exclaimed, "You are indeed a brilliant mind, my son." Immersed in this joyful moment, Lyenpo Sonam felt as if even a night was passing like an hour. The following morning, he hurried to the palace with his friends and conveyed the revelation to the king. Acknowledging the truth, the king commanded the pair of crows to live a contented life, while ordering the intruder to depart and never disrupt the harmony of the couple's life again.

Disclaimer: I heard this folk tale on YouTube and now I am sharing my understanding with all of you. Please excuse any language errors and forgive me if the story contains any inaccuracies.

Thank you and enjoy the story!