FIRST DAY OF NOMADIC FESTIVAL ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF VISITORS
The much-awaited Nomadic festival began yesterday with Lyonpo Dr Pema Gyamtsho the chief guest, along with other senior government officials from different organizations, members of parliament, local people and tourists, participating in it.
There were more than a thousand visitors from different parts of the country at the festival and every one was excited.
Why hold the nomads’ festival?
The festival was organized to provide a platform for the nomads from different parts of the country to interact among themselves and share their experiences and problems. Besides, this is the first time that nomads from different parts of the country are getting an opportunity to meet each other and share experiences. This is also an opportunity to display our diverse mountain cultures.
Officials, who organized the festival, are encouraged with the participation and response and are planning to make it an annual event.
Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho said: “Nomadic festival will be a tourism culture and make the nomads feel proud of themselves and their culture, and also make them the partner in conserving the environment. We will also train youths from the community to maintain the proper hygiene in handling food items and also develop better dairy products for the consumption for the tourists.”
He further added: “We want to ensure the nomads continue to live where they do. They are the first line of defense. They should not be ashamed of calling themselves ’Bjob’ (herders). They should see wildlife as a source of livelihood but not as a problem.”
The festival will not only educate the nomads but also teach them why one should protect the eco-system and if not how it will affect the people living downstream.
Addressing the gathering, Karma Drukpa, director of forests, said: “We hope such festivals would help promote the conservation ethics within the park and also in future ecotourism-related activities.”
Talking to BHUTAN TODAY, Yanden, 19 from Laya said: “I came to perform in the dance during the festival and I feel very happy to be here where I am able to meet different nomads from different dzongkhags. If I get an opportunity next year to come I will surely come. I will bring things to sell and take back home something as a gift for my family.”
Though the festival was conducted to attract tourists, only a handful of tourists were present to enjoy the unique culture of the different nomads.
Matsuoh, writer/Editor of Bungei-Shunju magazine in Japan, said: “The festival was very interesting, where farmers and the nomads got together to share their experiences; showcase their products to the spectators and also to the tourists from whom they can earn by selling off their goods.”
He also said: “I am amazed to see more of the different nomadic people and more people at the festival despite the far away location and bad road condition.”
There are stalls where the nomads from the eight dzongkhags showcased their products. Along with it, there are also other stalls where MoA officials have put up posters and other displays to educate people on the importance of environment, proper collection, drying and handling of the cordyceps , and medicinal herbs.
On the first day of the festival, there were also some cultural items from different nomadic groups and schools. It was also an occasion where certificates were awarded to the graduates on the basic farmhouse / hotel management training by the agriculture minister.
Source: bhutantoday