December 12: His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo graced the consecration of Dechhenphu monastery this morning. The consecration was attended by their Majesties the Queen Mothers, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princesses and members of the Royal family.

Early this morning, monks performed sacred ceremonies and offered prayers in preparation for the consecration of Dechhenphu monastery. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo was escorted in a traditional chipdrel ceremony to the courtyard of the Dechhenphu monastery where a marchang ceremony was performed.

Also present were the cabinet ministers, lopens of the zhung dratshang, senior armed force personnel and government officials. As part of the renovation and development project Dechhenphu monastery now has a spacious area where today sacred mask and folk dances were performed.

At the personal initiative of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo, a tshechu dedicated to Geynyen Jagpa Melan was started in Dechhenphu on the 3rd of November 2003.

Dechhenphu is the home of Geynyen Jagpa Melan, one of Bhutan’s main protecting deities.

The renovation of Dechhenphu started in 2005 on the command of His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo. The Guru Lhakhang has been relocated and built anew. Separate residence buildings, a guest house, a mani dungkhor, and surrounding walls were also built. The project cost Nu. 35 million which was provided by the Royal Government.

One of the most sacred monasteries in Thimphu valley, Dechenphug sees hundreds of devotees coming to the monastery every day to offer prayers, butter lamps and incense to Geynyen Jagpa Melan and seek his blessings.