Artists and musicians at Paro international airport

June 21: The Druk Air flight KB 202 on June 19 was a sea of gho and kiras as artists and musicians made their way to the 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival.

Flight KB 202 took the team to Delhi from where the team will head to Washington DC, the venue of the festival. At the festival, Bhutan’s unique and living culture will be displayed to more than a million visitors for a period of two weeks starting from the June 25 to the July 6.

Spread over an area equivalent to three football fields, the festival titled, “Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon” will give visitors the chance to see first hand what observers are calling the fascinating culture, customs and history of the kingdom of Bhutan.

Visitors to the festival will be able to explore Bhutan’s rich culture through live demonstrations, dance and musical performances, narrative sessions and a variety of hands-on activities.

Organizers say the festival featuring Bhutanese artists, dancers, cooks, craftspeople, carpenters, farmers and representatives of monastic life is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Bhutanese life and culture ever presented outside the kingdom.

Programme Curator Preston Scott of the Smithsonian Institute says the Folklife Festival is very proud to be able to share with its visitors the facts and beauties about the amazing country of Bhutan. He added that it is a historic year for the small kingdom. In 2008, Bhutan’s citizens held their first democratic elections, while also celebrating the 100th anniversary of the monarchy and the crowning of a new, young king. He said the depth and breadth of Bhutanese culture that will be seen at this year’s Festival is unprecedented in the United States.

An online brochure published by the Smithsonian Institute says the festival will explore how everyday life in Bhutan is reflected in the concept of the pursuit of Gross National Happiness and how Bhutan is balancing the protection of its unique resources with a challenging, alternative approach to modern life in the 21st century.

While in New Delhi the team of artists and musicians are preparing for the transatlantic flight to America. In Washington D.C itself a team of Bhutanese builders are working on building a temple which will be the centerpiece of the exhibition.

Our reporter Tshewang Dendup who is in New Delhi traveling with the artists and musicians says the participants are honoured to be part of this important festival in light of the fact that the festival is being held in historic year.

Many of the participants are traveling out of the country for the first time. But with a lively team spirit pervading the group, Bhutan’s participation at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has already started on a joyous and celebratory mood. The participants are excited and determined to showcase the best of Bhutan.

The Bhutanese delegation to the 42nd Smithsonian Folklife Festival is being led by His Royal Highness Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck.