Every
year the 1st day of the 12th lunar month, is celebrated as the traditional
day of offering (buelwa phuewi nyim).
It
is said that on this day representatives from all regions of Bhutan offered
Buelwa or offerings to Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to express their love and
devotion to him. Hence the day has been observed as Buelwa Phuewai Nyim or
the traditional day of offering. That day falls tomorrow the (6th January 2019) 25th January 2020 and is a national holiday.
The
Traditional Day of Offering is a time to give thanks to Zhabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal, the famous Rinpoche who unified all 20 districts and made
Bhutan an independent and sovereign country. The day will be of highest
significance if we all remember Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel and offer fruits,
tsho, and butter lamps at his images and pray for his continuous blessing. This
is the very purpose of the occasion, to remember and thank our Great Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal.
Bhutan
celebrates the Chunyipai Losar, commonly known as Gyalpi/Tshangla/Sharchokpa
Losar. The occasion is more popular in Eastern Bhutan. The day also focuses on
charity, particularly feeding others, and recreation.
It
is celebrated with feasting and traditional sports, including archery, digor,
and khuru.
In
the East, this day is celebrated as a new year. Families and entire
communities feast and enjoy traditional sports together to welcome the new
agricultural season. At the end of these festivities farmers begin the hard
work of preparing their fields for the new farming cycle.
However,
please watch on meat consumption. Instead thrive on vegetarian diet.
Remember: Buddha said,
"Meat-eating
is a diet that convolutes the three realms of Samara. It is a sword that severs
the potential for liberation. It is a fire that burns the seed of Buddhahood.
It is a shaft of lightning that ends rebirth in the higher realms or a precious
human rebirth".
Furthermore,
the terma teaching of Guru Rinpoche called Rinchin Dronme clearly condemns the
eating of meat for both lay and ordained people:
“All
the followers of Buddha, monks or nuns, novice or lay have seven main
principals to follow. These are ‘the four root principles’ and abstinence from
alcohol, meat and evening food.”
I
agree that due to ignorance, you are consuming meat. If you can't, gradually
reduce the consumption and finally give up.
Till
then recite the following mantra (Note that this mantra is not to promote
non-veg. This mantra is to help you to stop eating meat gradually).
“Om
Ahbirakay Tsara Hung”
Recite
this seven times over the meat to stop the fault of eating meat and to help the
sentient beings whose flesh it was to be reborn in a happy realm.
Have
a pure body during great occasion.
I
WISH ALL MY FRIENDS A VERY HAPPY CHUNGYIPI LOSAR.
Image courtesy: Bhutan
Majestic Travel
