Bhutan summer festival at Haa

As the two-day summer festival came to an end yesterday, Haa residents said it was not as bright and sunny as last year’s if sales from the stalls are any thing to go by.

Nor the food stalls nor the handicraft stall saw good business during the festival and stall owners said the Kathri took their crowd. Tshering Dem, 53, from Katsho gewog said the sale of food items in her shop is about 60 percent less than last year’s.

“Last year we were very busy with too many people and this time we are waiting for people to visit our stalls,” she said. “It’s because everyone is attending the Kathri ceremony.” Tshering Dem’s stall had Hoentey, Tse Thup, Khuley, tea and doma on sale.

The Tarayana rural craft stall also saw a drop in sales by almost 80 percent, program officer Karma said. “Last year we sold products worth more than Nu 40,000 in the two days,” he said. “But this time we sold products only worth Nu 11, 000 in two days.”

Likewise, other stalls also saw a drop in their sales but said they would continue participating in the festivals. A total of 61 tourists attended the festival, 10 more than what the festival saw last year.

While a number of programs were planned until 8pm, the festival had to end by afternoon because local participants wanted to attend the blessings at the Kathri ceremony. The photography competition was also cancelled because the tourism council had not received enough entries.

Haa dzongdag Rigzin Dorji said they had started the festival well last year and thought they’ll do better this time. “But since lots of events have coincided, we could not pay much attention to the summer festival,” he said. “While we attach equal importance, but with limited manpower and the people pre-occupied in attending the Kathri ceremony, the festival did not do well like last year.”

Source: Kuenselonline