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To many people of the world Bhutan is not a very familiar country. For years, it has kept itself alienated from the rest of the world. The country has deep rooted customs and traditions which are still widely observed. With time some of the traditions are changing.

For many years, Markong village of Bhutan has been observing the Sang festival. The specialty of this festival is that it is held to appease the local female deity, Ashi Lham. This song and dance festival is held for three hours and males are not allowed to watch the festival. Now days, the festival has been included in the list of major cultural events of Bhutan that are showcased in Bumthang. Now, people are allowed to watch an abridged version of the festival. Kuensel Online reports:

The dancers wear dongkhebs and the dance leader bears and beats a traditional drum (nga). To the layman, the performance has a rhythm and tone of some ritual recital, that is punctuated by drum beats and the circular movements vary from a slow sway to quick tempo, depending on which stanza they have reached.

“During official functions, only a very short version is performed,” said Phuntsho Pelden, 28, from Makrong, who added that the Ashi Lham was performed in the village only during the annual Sang (incense) festival.

The Sang festival is held according to the Bhutanese calendar. Normally, it is observed in the seventh month. Only women can join the festival. The day before the festival, the dancers go to Purshila and Rathpela to purify themselves through bathing. It is a days walk from the Makrong village. The dancers start singing the song when they leave the village. First, they reach Purshila and then Rathpela on the second day. A drum called lhakhang is used as instrument.The villagers of Makrong do not know about the origin of the festival but they wish to continue the tradition in future.

To the outside world Bhutan is not known as a developed country but a country of spirituality. If you feel like you want to be close to the nature and be spiritual then you can visit Bhutan, who knows, may be you will be able to see the Sang festival.

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Kuensel Online