Yangthang Bonkor: Bon Riutal of Yangthang community
Bonkor (miss-pronounced as Bonko) is the festival celebrated in virtue of an offering to local deity called Ap Chundu in Yangthang Village under Bji Gewog in Haa with the unique dress, lyrics, and steps. Bonkor is derived from the word Bonchoe – Bon religion. It is being performed once every three years. Usually it is celebrated on the 17th or 18th day of the 9th month of the Bhutanese calendar depending on the auspiciousness of the day. The next celebration would be in the year 2024. Bonko is a kind of festival and is performed by this particular village to appease the local deities for the wellbeing of the community. Bji Gewog has many villages but no other village has Bonkor festival. Other places in Haa have their own Bonkor festival. Ap Chundu is the main local deity of Haaps (The people of Haa). It is said that this festival is being practiced and performed since Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel’s time. However, no one could tell the exact date and the year of its beginning. The festival has the trend and is only being performed by the locals whose cast is considered to be rich and renowned. The people who get married and are settled here in the village are not entertained to participate or perform the festival taking the risk of bad happenings.
#festival
#local
#region
#local deity
#offering
#dress
#lyrics
#step
#triennial
Bhutan