Punakha Domchoe: The festival that re-enacts the victory over Tibetan by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal back in 17th century for the sacred relics, Ranjung Kharsapani.

Punakha Domchoe is a festival celebrated in Bhutan to commemorate a historic event from the 17th century. It revolves around the story of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the abbot of Ralung in Tibet, who brought sacred relics to Bhutan while being self-exiled and safe himself from the rivalry for the post of the 18th abbot in Ralung. People in the festival say that the Zhabdrung outwitted the army by throwing the relics into the Mochhu river, leading to their withdrawal for the chase for Rangjung Kharsapani. Today, Punakha Domchoe is celebrated as a vibrant festival of colorful pageantry, music, and dance, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Bhutan. Thousands of people, including tourists, gather at Punakha Dzong to witness the festival. The main attraction of the festival is the dramatic reenactment of the event, where performers dressed in traditional attire act out the battle scene between the Bhutanese and Tibetan armies. Getting myself at the feet of the magnificent Sleeping Elephant Dzong, the main seat of Zhabdrung, my keen interest to witness such a beautiful festival ended with bewilderment and astonishment. The festival is a reminder of Bhutan's strong cultural identity and the importance of preserving it for future generations. It is an experience that truly embodies the essence of Bhutan, the land of happiness.

"Socializing is more positive than being alone, that's why meetings are so important. People don't like being alone. That would be, however, an important skill to learn." - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

 Today was a day of mixed emotions as my classmates and I bid farewell to our two best friends who are leaving for Singapore on a scholarship. To make it a memorable occasion, we decided to go on a class picnic to the beautiful Puna Tsang chu river bank. The day was bright and sunny, with a gentle breeze blowing, and the scenery was breathtaking. We spent the day enjoying each other's company, playing games, and having a picnic. But the highlight of the day, for me, was spotting a Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) for the first time! As a passionate birdwatcher since high school, I was thrilled to see this beautiful bird in its natural habitat. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture a picture of it because my camera's resolution was not good enough, but the memory of seeing it in person will stay with me forever. As the day came to a close at 4 pm, we reluctantly packed up and called it a day.

A great day is to be remembered, when it is cherished with zealot of knowledge for the young minds. And so, do I mark the day.

 

The day started with a great morning assembly where the trophy of victory was handed to the administration by the college athletes

 Later in the day, classes started at 1:15 pm. During the class, the teacher shared a beautiful moral story, which set a great tone for the rest of the session. The class then proceeded with a discussion on the difference between listening and hearing. The teacher taught skills for listening for gist, specific information, detail listening, and inferential listening. 

The students also engaged in interactive group work on function and forms, including their determination through the situation, discourse structure, and intonation. Additionally, the differences between advice, warning, threats, and rewards were discussed. The class ended by providing various active listening tips for the students to use in their daily lives.