‘Handicrafts’ here is defined as products that are produced either completely by hand or with the help of tools.

A total of 167 entries from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal were judged by an international panel of experts on the products’ excellence of quality, authenticity of cultural expressions, innovation in design and marketability at the international level.

India bagged the highest number of awards, 27. Pakistan took five, Sri Lanka three, Nepal two and the other countries one each.

The mission of the award program is to give recognition to quality craft products that combine excellence of traditional skills, design innovation and aesthetics, thereby raising the quality standard of craft products to facilitate international market access.

On a score of five, the cotton shawl scored 4.68 points, according to the jury, for its “very appealing colour, motif and good pricing.” The shawl was priced at USD 40, about Nu 1,900.

“When they saw the shawl, everyone went for it and it scored the most in quality and authenticity,” said the UNESCO’s programme specialist for culture Moe Chiba. “This award means a recognition more to the craft than the person,” she added.

Among the other products presented for the award, the jury felt that the wild silk’s texture was too coarse for scarves, colours were not to the taste of contemporary market and the products too costly.

However, the general observation for Bhutanese products included excellence in quality/techniques and authenticity of tradition but weak in innovation, market appeal, pricing, finishing, sizing and packaging.

Meanwhile Karma Yangchen, 53, from Dungkar, Kurtoe said that she is very happy and proud to win the award. “ It means so much to the handicrafts association of Bhutan (HAB) and to me.”

The mother of three has also won other prizes within the country. Her designs and colour combination won her the top three prizes during the recent textile festival. She has also designed the kira for Druk Air stewardesses’ uniforms.

“I get my inspiration from flowers and GNH. When it comes to innovation, I change the old designs slightly,” said Karma Yangchen.

She learnt weaving from the age of 15 but gave up after she had children. The handicrafts shop she opened after her children grew up and the trainings she received from the UN and the ministry of economic affairs renewed her interest in textiles.

More than weaving, today she designs the colours and patterns for her 12 weavers. “Besides the award, I’m very happy that the Druk Gyalpo kept three of the four ghos I designed for the coronation and centenary celebrations.”

Kuensel Newspaper – Shawl bags only Bhutanese award

Bhutan Today, an eight-page morning paper, is part of Bhutan’s attempt to build a free press after its former monarch and fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, forced his largely unwilling subjects to accept democracy earlier this year.

Delivering copies of Bhutan Today will be a chore in a country with few passable roads, meaning newsagents will have to carry it to far-flung districts on foot and on horseback.

The paper has a cover price of five ngultrum, or about 10 cents.

Monks chanted prayers and rang bells and drums were banged as the newspaper’s first copies rolled off the presses at an auspicious hour chosen by astrologers.

Bhutan’s only newspaper until 2006 was a bi-weekly, state-run venture. Two privately owned papers entered the market later — the bi-weekly Bhutan Times and the weekly Bhutan Observer.

There is fierce competition for the small advertising revenue generated in the country of about 700,000 people. There are virtually no private advertisers and only government agencies offer advertisements.

In its first editorial, Bhutan Today complained of unfair competition.

“They asked the Ministry of Information and Communications to deny us a license to operate,” it read.

But Tenzin Dorji, the newspaper’s 32-year-old managing director, said they would overcome teething problems.

“I am confident,” Dorji told Reuters, adding that the novelty of being Bhutan’s first daily could win it more advertisements.

Bhutan’s literacy rate is about 60 percent but newspapers estimate a total readership of only about 12,000 people. Bhutan Today has an optimistic print run of 18,000 copies.

It is written in English but Bhutanese law means it must soon be printed in the local language.

The newspaper launch comes days before the coronation of the new king, 27-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, on November 6.

His father and predecessor abdicated in favor of his Oxford-educated son in 2006.

Bhutan held its first general election in March and parliament endorsed the country’s first constitution four months later, formally turning the absolute monarchy into a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarchy.

Bells and chants launch Bhutan’s first daily newspaper

For months, the contestants of Bhutan Star danced to the tune of the judges and sang their hearts out to impress them and the audience. What finally prevails, however, say observers, is the nimble touch of a few buttons on mobiles and landlines.

The quest for the country’s first star did not quite start on a good note, at least moneywise. The first attempt to collect funds through a concert by Indian Idol Prashant Tamang failed in terms of generating both revenue and crowd. And the organiser complaining about a lack of sponsors resulted into little or no attention on the contestants.

The concept, being tried for the first time in the country, was in itself hardly new. Neither was the process of income generation. Nor the manner of presentation.

To declare the names of contestants, who scored the least votes, something that should not take a minute, the host instead held back tantalisingly, building suspense and playing with the already frayed contestants’ emotions.

This is much a part of many reality shows (especially those that flood our homes through Indian reality show channels), but, as much as it shows and polishes the host’s oratory skills, the audience does not find this act of creating suspense appealing. Most said they preferred the results being declared without any drama.

Today, as the four-month old drama comes to an end, what’s new is the winding-up process of the star hunt. And since drama always translates into votes and votes into revenue, the organisers have decided to keep voting lines open, unlike other shows and contests, for ten days after the grand finale. This, according to organiser Nguldrup Dorjikss, is for the public to make a better judgment. (The results will be declared on December 31)

Another new aspect was the grand finale, which was on ticket system and not telecast live on television. To collect fund for prizes, said Nguldrup Dorjikss. Even the tickets sold during the finals were the unsold ones from Prashant Tamang’s concert with the date overwritten. Audiences in other districts were later remembered and the finals rebroadcast.

The priority, we realise, is far from a hunt for talent or a search for the country’s best voice. The priority is money.

Voting through SMS (short message service) may be democratic but, observers say, also flawed and biased, because one number can vote unlimited times. The contestants can vote for themselves and this, many feel, can overshadow real talent.

Authority rationalise by calling it a “commercial” activity. But the question going around is – should talent be compromised for commercialism?

Lama Karma is the founder, spiritual director, and teacher at the Drukpa Mila Center in Boulder, Colo. The center fosters religious exchange between Bhutan and the West. From the age of 7, Lama Karma grew up in the monasteries of Bhutan where he became a chant and dance master and studied for nine years to attain his Buddhist Philosophy degree. He performs rituals and ceremonies from the sacred traditions of the Drukpa Kagyu Buddhist lineage, which have remained in Bhutan, with few outsiders having the opportunity to experience them.

On Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. he will conduct a Buddha of Compassion Fire Ceremony and Dance of Vajrapani. During this special ceremony, certain offerings of food and herb medicines are given to the fire while Lama Karma chants and recites special prayers. Attendees will have the opportunity to offer individual prayers during the ceremony.

The Fire Ceremony offers healing to all types of diseases and imbalances and purifies obstacles and negativity. For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, the power and inspiration of the ceremony is dedicated to world peace and to the spiritual advancement and benefit of all beings.

Following a reception, Lama Karma will perform the Consecration Dance of Vajrapani. In this dance, the monk visualizes the wrathful emanation of the wisdom deity Vajrapani. He performs wearing a ritual mask and a costume that represents tiger skins while holding a flaming piece of wood in each hand. The monk invites Vajrapani to destroy negativity, protect, and heal the area where the dance is performed.

This dance will act as a consecration for the museum and its objects.

At 2 p.m. Jan. 4, Lama Karma will present a teaching on “The Value of Compassion.” In celebration of the New Year, Lama Karma will discuss compassion as a solution to difficulty in our lives and in the world. He will speak about the law of karma as it relates to our choice of actions and will also include the subjects of interconnectedness and an acceptance of humanity to develop a positive focus for the well-being of our planet and all living things.

The Tibetan Museum is located at 338 Lighthouse Ave. For information, call 718-987-3500, or visit www.tibetanmuseum.org.

Bhutanese monk to spend weekend at Tibetan museum – SILive.com

Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley inaugurated the second largest protected area in the country, Wangchuck Centenary Park (WCP) in Nasiphel village of Choekhar gewog, Bumthang on December 12.

Covering about 3,736 km sq of north-central region of the country, WCP connected Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Park in the west and Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary in the east.

Adding to its special features was also the park area being a source of Punatsangchu, Mangdechu, Kurichu, and Chamkharchu, the rivers, which would power hydropower projects.

Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley said that the declaration of WCP for the conservation of species and unique ecosystems in the country was a humble tribute to the Monarchs, who placed environmental conservation at the heart of development.

“Today we are adding another jewel to our existing network of protected areas,” he said.

The park was also expected to uplift local communities through community tourism and home-stays.

“The park has a huge potential to promote ecotourism in water related recreational sports such as boating, skiing, fishing and canoeing,” said an official from nature conservation division, adding that the famous Dhur tsachu (hot spring) located in the park would attract tourists.

Locals agree. Kuenga, 28, from Nasiphel village, the farthest village in the gewog, said the park had given them road. “Eco-tourism would benefit us even more,” she said.

Meanwhile the park is not short of challenges.

Chief forest officer, Sonam Wangyel Wang, said that with the institution of the new park management, they also had to look at the livelihood of about 10,000 people who are directly depended on park resources.

“The Park will not restrict people from using forest resources but ensure them to use it in a sustainable manner,” he said.

The zone was a host to about 242 species of plants belonging to 51 families, 23 species of mammals and 135 species of birds. Endangered mammals such as tigers, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear, Takin and Tibetan Wolf also inhabit the park.

Kuensel Newspaper – 2nd largest park inaugurated

The Road to Bhutan rally drove 15,000 km for 67 days through Italy, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and India, “making music” along the way, and entered Bhutan from Gelephu on November 20. Their rally flagged off on September 26.

Director of Road to Bhutan, Arnold Pilon, who has done ten world tours, called the journey “heavy traveling”. “This 11th journey was the heaviest journey I’ve ever made but I’m very happy that I am part of this celebration.”

The oldest of the group, Arnold Pilon, 62, said that the roads were very bad in Pakistan and India. “But Bhutan’s roads are good like in Holland.”

The rally crew-members, between 24 to 62 years old, comprise musicians, teacher, tour operator, mechanics and film crew, all sharing the passion for travel. Depending on the road condition and traffic, they were sometimes on the road for six hours daily and, at times, 18 hours a day.

Arnold Pilon said that it took him two years to put the rally together. One of the riders, Frits Opdam, 51, calls the journey fantastic. “It’s my first time touring overland in cars and there are no rules, it seems, while driving in India or Pakistan. It’s funny in a way and sometimes also challenging.”

The students of Kilu Bhutan music school flagged the group in yesterday at the Youth Village. The visitors presented the school with musical instruments and a welcome concert by folk musicians Linde Nijland and Bert Ridderbos. They also gifted Bhutan a Road to Bhutan painting by the painter of the year 2008, Henk Helmantel, and his book.

The musicians will perform at the CICCC ground on November 23 along with the vintage car exhibition. They will leave the country on November 24. “We’ll fly home from Kolkata and ship the cars,” said Arnold Pilon.

Another vintage rally group comprising of 35 cars and 70 people, called the Himalayan Trial 2008, will drive into the city today at 3:00 pm.

Kuensel Newspaper