Gomchhens Fall in Bhutan

The traditional Gomchhen (lay monks), are on the wane in Bhutan due to the government’s policy to enrol every child in school.   Gomchhens play a vital role in the life of villagers, performing rituals and rites in times of illness, death, birth, and on auspicious days.

Villagers are becoming increasingly alarmed that the traditional practice of age-old rites and rituals and festivals which are a large part of their culture and community life, will slowly disappear.

“It is difficult to find gomchhens in the villages when people need them,” said Samkhar Gup Sonam Dorji. He said most gomchhens are resigning from their goendeys (community religious centres).

Due to the government’s policy and wish to achieve 100 percent primary school enrolment local leaders are saying that fewer children are becoming gomchhens, plus their parents prefer to send them to school believing modern education is better for their children than sending them to the goendeys which lack modern amenities and benefits.

Kinzang Gyeltshen, a villager from Radhi, said the decreasing number of gomchhens coupled with no younger people interested to join goendeys would even lead to the death of lochhey (annual household ritual) culture.

Tempa Lhendup another villager also pointed out that gomchhens uphold traditional values more than anyone in the villages. Their absence in the villages could mean the extinction of the traditional values of a community.

The Dorji Lopen of Radhi Lhakhang, Tempa Lhendup, said people are losing faith in traditional religious practices, which will lead to waning of faith in the religion itself in the long run.

A concern is that it is getting increasingly difficult for villagers to find a gomchhens to perform rituals, especially in times of illness, or one to explain the origin or choreography of dances such as, Tercham (the sacred naked dance).

Elderly gomchhens are asking to be given moral and monetary support by the community and the government.

By Jane Poretsis

Source: Bhutan Observer www.butanobserver.bt