Gomphu Kora: Trashiyangtse: Bhutan
Around 13kms beyond Chazam (22km from Trashigang) on the road to Yangtse is an extraordinarily picturesque temple, just beneath the road, surrounded by terraced rice fields, called Gom Kora or actually Gomphu Kora (Gomphu meaning Mediation Place and Kora means Circumambulation). Guru Rinpoche meditated here and left a body impression on the rock. It is believed that Guru Rimpoche subdued an evil dragon here crushing it into the rock leaving impressions of the dragon's body and his hat. Guru Rimpoche also hide a Tshebum or vase containing the water of immortality inside the rock. Pilgrims may be fortunate to have opportunity to taste the water if it trickles out of the rock when they visit. The temple was built here in 17th century by Minjur Tempa, above the large rock with meditation cave underneath. There are many relics inside this two-storey temple and the murals are said to date from its original construction period. The pilgrims revere it as a sacred power place and circumambulate the meditation cave. The pathway around the cave includes a narrow, twisting passageway through which pilgrims crawl and wiggle to test their negative past actions. In March/April, a three-day festival is held here, which is quite unique from other Tsechu around Bhutan. Pilgrims circumambulate the Goemba aruond the large rock throughout the night during the festival. Many nomadic tribes from Merak and Sakten also come here during this period and for many of whom, the evening event results in marriages.
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Gomphu Kora Tsechu (East Bhutan) days 1-2
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Part 1, The Rehearsals
Gomphu Kora Festival Bhutan
Gomphu Kora Festival Bhutan - Witness elaborately decorated masked dancers perform their traditional rituals to the tunes of ancient horns, drums and symbols. Listen to the enchanting songs and melodies of the local dancing girls as the Bhutanese people gather for the colorful celebrations of Gomphu Kora festival.
Gomkora Tsechu (East Bhutan) Day 3 - 1 The Holy Kora
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Day 3 Part 1, Very Early in the Morning, The Holy Kora
Trashigang Town: Bhutan
Trashigang, The Jewel of the East, spans the easternmost corners of the kingdom, skirting up to the edge of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. It is the country’s largest district, with an altitude ranging from 600 m to over 4000 m.
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music: ben.sound.com
Chorten Kora Trashiyangtse Bhutan
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Chorten Kora is large, but not nearly as large as the stupa of Bodhnath in Nepal, after which it was patterned. It was constructed in 1740 by Lama Ngawang Loday in memory of his uncle, Jungshu Phesan, and to subdue local spirits.
In front of the chorten is a natural stone stupa, the sertho, which used to sit atop the chorten and is considered sacred. There is also a small goemba here. The popular Bhutanese film Chorten Kora was shot here.
The story behind the chorten is that Lama Ngawang Loday went to Nepal and brought back a model of Bodhnath carved in a radish. He had it copied here so that people could visit this place instead of making the arduous trip to Nepal. The reason that Chorten Kora is not an exact copy of Bodhnath is because the radish shrank and became distorted during the return trip.
During the first month of the lunar calendar there is an auspicious kora held here, whereby people gain merit by walking around the main chorten and its inner kora. It is celebrated on two separate dates (the 15th and 30th days of the lunar month). The first date (Dakpa Kora) is for the people from the Dakpa community in Arunachal Pradesh, India, who make the three-day pilgrimage here to celebrate the sacrifice of an eight-year-old girl from Arunachal Pradesh who was enshrined in the chorten to appease a troublesome demon. The second kora (Drukpa Kora) is for the Bhutanese, who come from all over eastern Bhutan, including from the Merak and Sakteng regions, to attend the local fair and gain some good karma by witnessing the unfurling of a giant thondrol. Dozens of stalls and gambling stands give pilgrims a chance to catch up on some shopping and local gossip. A month before the festival the chorten is whitewashed anew. This is paid for with funds earned from rice grown in the fields immediately surrounding the chorten.
Trashigang Festival Tsechu in Bhutan
Little Bhutan -
Tsechus, a mask dance festivals, are one of the most colorful festivals in Bhutan.
During the tsechus, Thongdrol, large scroll paintings of deities and saints which have the power to liberate people from sin that they had committed just by seeing it are unfurled for public. The word throngdel means liberation on sight and people form long queues to receive blessings by touching their heads against the bottom of the thangkha.
Tashiyangtse Bhutan
Trashiyangtse or Tashi Yangtse is a small town in Yangtse Gewog, and the district headquarters of the Trashiyangtse District in eastern Bhutan. It is located to the north west of Trashigang, about 3hrs drive. The main attraction of Trashiyangtse is the Chorten Kora, a new dzong that was inaugurated in 1997, the School of Traditional Arts, which is a sister school of the School of Traditional Arts in Thimphu. Along the way, you will also be able to visit Gomkora temple, a holy site blessed by Guru Rinpoche.
Gomkora Tsechu day 3 - 4 Asking for the Blessing
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Day 3 Part 4, The pilgrims proceed in a long, long queue under a pouring rain to ask for their blessing from the Holy Tongdrel (Great Thangka: When You See It You Are Liberated)
Old Trashiyangtse Dzong Trashiyangtse Bhutan
Trashiyangtse Dzong is one of the oldest Dzong in Bhutan with a history dating back t to the 9th century. It was previously known as Dongdi Dzong. Gonkar Gyal, grandson of lhasey Tshangma, who had established himself in Tshenkharla, built Dongdi Dzong. The people in the locals invited him. He accepted the offer and built Dongdi Dzong. However, Dongdi Dzong was abandoned and fell into ruins when the Tibetans attacked.
In the 15th century, Pema Lingpa chanced upon the ruin during one of his visit and decided to rebuild it, renaming it Trashiyantse Dzong (the fortress of the auspicious fortune). In the 17th century, the ruler of Trashoyangtse, King Jidra, surrendered to the Tronsa Penlop Chogyal Minjur Tempa who was on a quest to unite the six eastern regions.
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Gomkora Tsechu day 3 - 3 Unfolding and hanging the Holy Tongdrel
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Day 3 Part 3, The Holy Tongdrel (Great Thangka, When You See It You Are Liberated) is unfolded and exposed for worship
Drupkhang Thongdrel
Drupkhang Thongdrel
Tshechu Mongar Bhutan - December 2008
Gomkora Tsechu day 3 - 5 The Holy Dances
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Day 3 Part 5, The dances in front of the Holy Thongdrel (Great Thangka: When You See It You Are Liberated)
Gomkora Tsechu day 3 - 6 Refolding the Tongdrel
Italian writer Mario Biondi shows a few scenes of the famous Gomkora (Gomphu Kora) Tsechu, which takes place every year near Thrashigang (East Bhutan) - March 20-22, 2013 - Day 3 Part 6, The dances stop for a few moments and the Holy Thongdrel (Great Thangka: When You See It You Are Liberated) is refolded and put away in the Temple
028 BHUTAN
Eastern BHUTAN near Trashigang: May, 2015. (Blue Poppy Travel & Trekking, Thimpu & London:- Chhimi Dema & Kin Lee)
The country's primary road is the East-West highway, known locally as the Lateral Road, which was constructed starting in 1962. The road starts in Phuentsholing on the southwestern Indian border and terminates in Trashigang in the far east, with spurs to other main centres such as Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha. The Lateral Road is built to a standard width of only 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) yet must support traffic in both directions (the cost of cutting a wider road through the mountainous Middle Himalayas is prohibitive at this time). Safety barriers, road markings, and signage are sparse. Traffic proceeds at a slow speed, typically around 15 km/h (9.3 mph), to minimise head-on collisions. Road accidents still occur frequently and, because of the steep mountainous topography, are typically horrific. Most of the route between Paro Airport and Thimphu has recently been improved to a two lane road.
The Lateral Road traverses are a number of high passes, including Tremo La and Do Chu La. The highest pass on the road is at Chapcha; the second-highest pass is at Trumshing La in central Bhutan at an altitude of over 3,800 m (12,500 ft).[4]
History of Chorten Kora
Producer Tenpa Wangdi brings you a programme about the history of Chorten Kora under Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag.