Ging Tsholing Chham

Ging Tsholing Chham

The dancers which combines two groups of characters namely Ging and Tsholing. The Tsholing dancers have long colorful brocade dresses and wear terrifying masks. The Ging dancers wear tagshams (tiger-skin skirts) and terrifying dark blue (male) and red (female) mask with a flag on the top. Each Ging dancers carries Nga (Drum) in the left hand and Nea tog (drumstick) in the right hand.

The Tungam Chham

Tungam Chham

The dancers wear beautiful brocade dresses, boots and a terrifying mask. The dance has a very deep symbolic meaning. A ritual sacrifice is carried out, the dancers represent the gods.

Daga Dzong

Zhabdrung Rinpochhe, after unifying the western part of the country, decided to expand the Drukpa rule ro the southern region. Accordingly he visited Dagana and in about 1651, laid the foundation for the dzong which he named Trashi Yangtse Dzong. Tenpa Thinley was appointed as the first Daga Poenlop to govern the southern region fom this Dzong. Daga Dzong become the seat of the Daga Poenlop for many years. Today it is the headquarters of the Dagana Dzongkhag

About Dzong (Fortress) of Bhutan

Dzong's (Fortress) of Bhutan

The word "Dzong" loosely translated mean a fortress. For over three hundred years they have served as an effective defence against any attack or invasion. That is why, they were built mostly on mountains spurs overlooking and commanding the whole valley below. They were often surrounded by watch towers and observation posts situated higher up the hillsides. The Dzong today serve the function of both administrative center and a monastery.

Dzongs were first built in Bhutan in the twelfth century by La, Gyalwa Lhanangpa, an important leader of the Lhapa Kagyu. Do Ngon Dzong (Blue Stone Dzong) where Dechen Phodrang stands today was built by him. It was only from the time of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in he seventeenth century that the Dzong played a significant role in the history of Bhutan.They not only served as an effective defence but also became the centers of religious and cultural activities and the seat of civil authority.

Today the major Dzongs are the seats of district administrations. They house the offices of the civil authority headed by the Dzongda and district court headed by the Thrimpons.

GASA DZONG

Gasa is most famous for its Layap people, and for the Snowman Trek, one of the most challenging treks in the Himalayas. Gasa is bordered by Tibet to the north and by Thimphu, Punakha, and Wangdue Phodrang dzongkhags to the south. Gasa is divided into four gewogs:

* Goenkhamae Gewog
* Goenkaatoe Gewog
* Laya Gewog
* Lunana Gewog

National Council from Gasa

Formally, Gasa was a dungkhag under Punakha dzongkhag and it was made a separate dzongkhag at the beginning of the 7 th plan in 1992. It consists of four Geogs – Goenkhatoe, Goenkhamae, Laya and Lunana. Gasa lies on the old trade route to Tibet. The Gasa people take pride in the fact that the Zhabdrung entered Bhutan through Gasa and there are many sacred places and artifacts revered as being blessed by his presence and association. In fact, the map for the Geog as drawn by the community use landform associated with the Zhabdrung as reference point. For instance, the Phulakha (pass in the north) is where it is believed that the people of Gasa made their first offerings to the Zhabdrung who had camped there on his way into Bhutan.