Sunday, October 20, 2024

2024 Road Scholar XXVIII: Thimphu Tashichho Dzong and Archery (10/20/2024)

Sunday, October 20, 2024
Poor photo, but it proves that they paint the woodwork
after it is placed on the building
Laundry day in the apartments
Local guide Kinga shows the scarf
he must wear when visiting the
Tashichho Dzong/fortress, which
houses both the secular and religious
offices of government
South side of Tashichho Dzong (17C, restored and enlarged
when the 4th king moved the capital to Thimphu in 1962)
Roses still blooming in October
Tashichho Dzong with the national flag on Bhutan
The yellow field of the flag symbolizes
the king and civil authority and the orange
is for Buddhist traditions; the dragon is
white to symbolize purity and he holds a
jewel in each hand for wealth and security
East side of Tashichho Dzong where the first entrance
is only for the king
The king's house is not far
Across the Thimphu River are the National Assembly
(47 members based on population) and the
National Council (20 members from 20 districts
plus five appointed by the king) buildings
The portal through which we entered
Mahakala, the wrathful protector of Buddha
is in red over the stairs; others are unknown
Sarp Lhakhang/Chapel façade; the chapel
was part of the original 17C dzong (KSS)
The chapel has mythical beasts supporting beams (KSS)
Garuda is located on the
corners of the chapel
The 17C utse/tower
The 17C Dukhang/assembly hall
We could only take photos on the
veranda of the assembly hall, with
murals of an astronomical almanac
and Yama holding the wheel of life
The hanging textiles seemed to act as lampshades
Detail of a hand-painted column
Tamiko waits outside the assembly hall
Kent spins the prayer wheels
The prayer wheels
Back in town, we passed the main entrance of
the Changlimithang Football Stadium
We spent some time at the Changlimithang Archery Ground;
archery with a traditional bamboo bow is the national sport
The scarves hanging at the waist
apparently indicate target hits
It is amazing that the target is 
145 m/476' in distance
The competitors at the target end did not
seem worried about being hit by an arrow
Oh, we can see Buddha Dordenma
from here
I believe there were two teams of four each at this end;
when it was their turn to be the target end, they kept
pointing out the target and yelling instructions to teammates
Videos of archery and a cheerleading dance?:
We actually were able to see an arrow hit the target;
the teammates checked it out and did a little victory dance

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