Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck and PICSA’s coordinator Karma Tshering at the launch 11 events to commemorate 60th birthday celebrations of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Occasion: While celebrating the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo next year, Bhutan will attempt to break two Guinness World Records in mass tree plantation and publishing the world’s largest book. People’s Initiative in Celebrating the Sixtieth Anniversary (PICSA), which Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck launched yesterday, along with its website picsa.bt, will carry out mass tree plantation tentatively at the Jigme Singye Wangchuck national park on June 2 next year. A total of 111 people will attempt to plant 50,000 trees in an hour to beat the current world record of 40,885 trees planted by 100 heads in Assam in an hour. PICSA’s project coordinator, Karma Tshering, said 111 physically fit young men will be selected from Bhutan Eco-Green Initiative Network (BEGIN) to undergo a vigorous 10 days plantation technique exercises before the mass tree plantation for proper coordination, speed and technique to beat the current record. The ministry of agriculture and forests, PICSA’s partner agency, he said, has agreed to supply saplings for the event. The other major event of PICSA is the publication of the world’s largest book 11-11-11, which is expected to be unveiled on November 11, 2015, by His Majesty the Druk Gyalpo, when the 60th birthday celebration culminates. Measuring 9mx6m with about 450 pages and weighing 3,000kg, the book will be published to beat the current world record set in Dubai on a book on the Koran that measures 5mx8.06m (16.40ft x 26.44ft), weighs 1,500kg and runs 429 pages. The 11-11-11 book, which is bigger by a metre in width and length than the one that’s holding the record today, will have a cover made of sandalwood to give the special fragrance every time one opens the book. The book’s cover will be carved with traditional art and bronze work portraying a picture of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. Karma Tshering will go to Dubai to study the techniques used in the book that’s holding the current record before starting the historic book. All raw materials, such as the traditional handmade paper ( desho) and ink made from traditional oven smoke, will be used in the making of the gigantic book. “Therefore, we can genuinely claim it a “made in Bhutan product,” PICSA’s program stated. For the calligraphy, Karma Tshering said, about 11 individuals with the best handwriting will be employed, through an open contest, to write articles for the book’s 11 chapters. A manufacturing unit of the book will be set up in Thimphu, and a live exhibition will be held for public during the making of the world’s largest book on traditional and paper making, wood carving, bronze work, art and painting, calligraphy and binding. Karma Tshering said they have designed a special way to make the book available for public viewing. For instance, at the beginning of every month, only one chapter will be opened to public through a religious ceremony. “This is to give the book a sacred value, and to build curiosity to the eager visitors, locals and tourists,” he said. The exhibition is expected to go on for seven to eight months until the book completes. The book will be placed on a raised platform on the right side of the Changlimithang ground for unveiling, where 11 strongmen dressed in traditional warrior attire will draw the ropes to open the book. Meanwhile, PICSA’s proposed 11 events will kick off with a two-day live textile exhibition at Kurtoe in Dungkar, Lhuentse, the birthplace of the Wangchuck dynasty, and also the origin of Bhutan’s most renowned textile, Kushu Thara , on November 14 and 15. On December 17, PICSA will hold a music festival in Trongsa, the seat of Choetse Penlop. Coinciding with the International Day of Happiness, Bhutan International Film Festival, themed, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo and GNH, will be launched on March 20 next year, and a marathon of 18km for men and 10km for women will also be organised in Sherubtse College, Kanglung. For the longevity and good health of the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, a three-day Peling tshechu festival will be held in Bumthang on March 29-31. On July 20, Tshepakmey ritual and offering of 111 statues of Tshepakmey to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, wishing His Majesty to live 111 years, will be held at the Kuenrey of Tashichhodzong. Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck will offer an eternal golden flame of gratitude to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo at Dochula Druk Wangyal lhakhang on October 5-7. PICSA is formed under the aegis of Her Majesty Gyalyum Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, to pay a humble tribute to the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, and supplement and complement the government’s initiatives for the occasion. The activities are planned to avoid coinciding with major events of the government for the celebration. By Rinzin Wangchuk
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 02:30:46 +0000
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