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

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