November 17: His Holiness the Je Khenpo and the monks of the Central Monastic Body have left for Punakha, their winter residence yesterday.

Early yesterday morning, His Holiness and the monk body were seen off by Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, the cabinet ministers, and the opposition leader at the Tashichhodzong.

Thousands of devotees waited at different places along the road to receive blessings from His Holiness the Je Khenpo and the monk body. Every year, His Holiness and the retinue of monks move to their winter residence on the 1st day of the 10th Bhutanese month.

His Holiness and the monk body will make a night halt at the Thinleygang Lhakhang before proceeding to the Puna Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang this morning. After spending six months in Punakha, they will move back to Thimphu on the 1st day of the 4th Bhutanese month.

This tradition was first introduced by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel in the 17th century.