Main Story of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.

tandin tshewang: master editer

Tshering Dorji Tamang:

pema dorji: 

 Main story: It’s bright, the main room where the exhibit is carefully placed behind sealed glasses. There is a special aura in the room. Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel – the founder of Bhutan – who we read in history books suddenly came alive through the sacred relics and objects displayed at the Royal Textile Academy (RTA) in Thimphu.

Ap Dorji, an old man from Changangkha, throws himself down and prostate on the carpeted gallery floor. He does this three times and gets up, mumbling prayers. His daughter, Sonam Wangmo, accompanies him. With folded hands, Ap Dorji slowly and carefully observes the relics, bowing his head and making small monetary offerings.

To her father, Sonam Wangmo carefully explains every object that is displayed.

There are silk thangkas of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel that dates back to the 17th century and some brought all the way from Tashigang Goenpa in Hongtsho. There is a jacket (kutoe), ceremonial lap cover (chagsi pangkhep) and auspicious hat (uzham) belonging to Chogley Jigme Tenzin, one of his reincarnations.

There is a statue of Dorji Chang or Vajradhara, made of gilt bronze and gold, and a thunderbolt (dorje) and bell (drilbu), made of gilt bronze and brass, which were believed to be have been brought from Ralung in Tibet by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel who presented it to his hostess Zumpo Chungmo in Jarogang during his visit in the 17th century.