The Naked Dzongkhag

Sunday is an extended day for a family or friends in planning to get together and do something exciting/relaxing. Usually, it is occupied with picnics, offering of prayers, 'karmey' and 'nyenda' in lhakhang, or simply making a round in town for shopping purpose or just to hang out. However, the Sunday of June 24, 2012, for the residents of Wangdue Phodrang Dzongkhag was no 'extended day'. Rather it brought a dismay from witnessing a tragic strike hard leaving their Dzongkhag naked.  

Source: PaSsu
(According to some sources, the fire
broke out from the entrace door)

It was the Sunday when the third oldest and historic monument/fortress called Wangdu Phodrang Dzong , which once stood tall on the ridge where Phochu-Mochu and Dangchu rivers meet and flows as one happily united river, was gutted to ground with an unstoppable blaze that started around 4 p.m. (BST) and raged onto midnight or even later without any sign of mercy. Today, June 25, 2012, the nation mourns for its great loss. Well, on the contrary, the nation is also happy to learn that all sacred relics have been successfully rescued and is in safe hand/place. This is yet another history in making.

This is not the first tragedy of its kind we are witnessing. There were many and to name one, Taktshang (Tiger's nest), believed to be one of the most saved and sacred treasure, was razed to ground. However, not long enough, the monastry was rebuilt while still retaining its original architecture. Even so, watching Wangdue Phodrang Dzong engulfed in blaze - helpless - and as I blog this simply gives me goose bumps and chill yet dead feeling at heart.

Building of Wangduephodrang Dzong by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel on the ridge that assimilates like the trunk of a sleeping elephant, as the tale goes, started in 1638 and after a year long, in 1639, the construction completed. Going by the history, the Dzong was caught in fire once in 1837 causing a major damage and later in 1897, an earthquake added another damage. Of late, in 2011, there were minor damages by yet another earthquake. All the damages caused were renovated to its original structure within the quickest possible time span. However, the damage we are witnessing this time will not only cost the nation a huge expense but also a lasting disheartening moment in addition to good amount of time in successfully re-erecting the Dzong back to its originality that rested 'on the trunk of a sleeping elephant'. 

Source: Facebook (After approx an hr or two of fire breakout in evening)

Source: BBS (The fire still eating the Dzong late late night)

The very cause of  the fire breakout is still a mystery, although some say it started from a short circuit, a nearby saw mill, or someone might have set on fire deliberately. Whatever the cause was, the treasure either "flew into sky or  is drawned under soil", as Mr. Karma Dorji, reporter of BBS, reports LIVE with a deep saddened tone. "It was as if the sleeping elephant that carried the fortress was standing up and shaking off the dzong it carried for centuries." (Kuensel, June 24, 2012.) 

Today, Monday, June 25, 2012, I join the nation in mourning for the great loss of our almost 400 years old monument, the Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.  

Before razing to ground by the unstoppable blaze

Source: Yeshey Dorji (Photographer and blogger. Photo taken 7 months ago)

Source: Google Image