In the quiet hills of Gongdu Gewog’s Dagsa Chiwog, an age-old tradition continues to survive against mounting odds. Kharphu, a sacred local festival observed once every two years, is increasingly difficult to organise as villages empty out, elders age, and younger generations turn away from customary practices.
This year’s celebration nearly faltered. With fewer able-bodied men remaining in the village, the gewog administration had to issue a formal appeal, urging residents to come together so the ritual could proceed without disruption. The call was answered—just enough to ensure the festival endured once more.
Kharphu is a three-day ritual observed in parts of Monggar to honour local deities and seek protection for people, livestock, and crops. In Dagsa, the ceremony begins with men and women believed to descend from the local deity assembling in colourful traditional dress. Chanting sacred verses, they walk in procession from the host household to the temple, carrying offerings of milk, butter, and cheese.
The festival, passed down entirely through oral tradition, now stands on fragile ground. One of its most experienced ritual leaders, 68-year-old master chanter Tashi Tenzin, says the lack of apprentices has become the greatest threat to Kharphu’s survival.
“When we learned these rituals, we simply copied our elders,” he said. “We never questioned the meaning, and they never explained it. Now they are gone, and we are left with limited understanding. I fear this tradition may disappear because no one wants to learn what little I still know.”
Organising the ritual has become a logistical challenge. According to Dagsa Tshogpa Pema Dema, at least eight trained men are required to perform the ceremonies, while women can be mobilised more easily from the village. The men must undergo three days of preparation before the festival—without any form of compensation.
“Many young men say they don’t know the rituals and prefer the elders to continue,” Pema Dema said. “Others are unwilling to commit the time without wages. That makes it very difficult.”
Local leaders acknowledge that the challenges are not new. Gongdu Gup Tshewang Tobgyal explained that Kharphu was once performed monthly. Over time, as circumstances changed, it became an annual event and eventually a biennial one.
“Empty households have reduced manpower, and there is declining interest among youth in cultural activities,” he said. “These are the main reasons the festival is struggling.”
In response, the gewog office is exploring ways to strengthen collaboration with communities to safeguard such traditions. While it does not directly organise cultural events, local leaders believe the responsibility must now rest with the chiwogs, supported by the gewog administration.
“It is time for the communities themselves to take ownership of these traditions,” the gup said. “The gewog office will support where needed.”
Despite the obstacles, villagers insist that abandoning Kharphu is unthinkable. Gyembo, this year’s host of the festival, said the ritual is deeply tied to the community’s identity and beliefs.
“Our ancestors practised this culture, and it is believed that stopping it would bring misfortune,” he said. “We will do whatever we can to continue. Our economic conditions have improved with roads and better livelihoods, but manpower and youth participation remain our biggest problems.”
For now, Kharphu endures through the determination of a shrinking group of elders and the belief that the ritual protects the community. Yet many fear that belief alone may not sustain it for long. Without renewed interest from younger generations, one of Monggar’s oldest living traditions risks fading quietly into history.
