Buli Tsho

I am sorry it won’t be sensible unless you understand Khengkha. I have requested the caretaker do in Dzongkha, but he felt Khengkha would be the best way to convey. He gave us permission to record and share his messages.

Well here is some parts of oral account on Buli Tsho. Please believe or visit Buli Tsho.

Its believed Buli Tsho was once located in Zhongar present Mongar.  Story tells that Zhongar had a cruel King protected by a mermaid of the Tsho. The King’s sheer cruelty did not please his subject. Dissatisfied with the king's behavior, the people destroyed the environment around the lake, forcing the mermaid to flee. My wife from Mongar endorses the story and beliefs. She complements that Buli Tsho ran or was moved from her village Takchu in Mongar.   

The caretaker explains in a video how the mermaid came to Buli and sought refuge with one of the residents. She was given the central open room but took the altar room instead. The mermaid warned the grandma host not to open nor peek through the doors. The night set off well.

Next day, since she did not show any sign of getting out of the alter room. Curiosity got the better of three grandmas, who peeked and saw her upper half as a human covered in ornaments and her lower half as a snake in the water. Despite the host's defiance, the mermaid left few jewels and a milk churner as a token of gratitude. Some believe that if the host had complied with her request, the house would have been filled with treasures and more.

The caretaker also shares another story about how a local girl became a companion to the Buli Maenmo Tsho and received a dowry in return. Please watch and listen.

For the video please visit Buli Tsho

#BuliTsho #Zhemgang #Zhongar #Mongar #Tsho #Culture

A brief insight into Tsheldang Statue

Archiving this short note for the record. In the annals of art history at Kheng Tsheldang, few sculptors have marked their presence through their mastery and creativity. One such master is Jinzo Wangdi, a prominent sculptor from Paro Hephug who sculpted statues of Tsheldang Lhakhang. His exceptional craftsmanship and deep spiritual connection are evident in the breathtaking statues he created for Kunzang Shedrup Choling Retreat Centre and Tsheldang Lhakhang. 

Jinzo Wangdi began with a vision to immortalize the spiritual figures revered by the Tsheldang community through his artistry. For 4.5 months, from April 19th 2022 to September 6th 2022, he poured his heart and soul into sculpting three magnificent statues, each embodying the divine essence of their subjects.

The most prominent creation was a 6-foot-tall statue of Buddha. Jinzo Wangdi meticulously carved every detail, capturing the serenity and enlightenment associated with it. This awe-inspiring masterpiece was an emblem of peace, compassion, and wisdom. The statue commanded a price of Nu:150,000, a testament to its exceptional artistry and spiritual significance. The sculpting of this was sponsored by the village Lama Tsampa Tashi Geleg. He did offer the Dzung as well.

Additionally, Jinzo Wangdi crafted two statues of equal brilliance, measuring 5 feet in height. The first Guru Rinpoche, the revered patron saint of Bhutan, was known for his contributions to the spread of Buddhism. The second Terton Pema Lingpa is a revered treasure revealer in Bhutanese religious history and the tradition Tsheldang is accustomed to. Both figures were intricately sculpted, capturing the essence of their divine personalities. Together, these statues were sculpted for the price of Nu:330,000. The two statues were funded by Apa Tshewang, one of the senior citizens of the village. Khenpo Rinzin Wangchuk offered the Dzung of these two statues.

The painting of the statues is contracted to Kinga Wangchuk, a local resident as I write this post. The painting was funded by villagers living away from home. This phrase updated on 25th June 2023.

Today, the statues crafted by Jinzo Wangdi stand as testaments to his exceptional talent, serving as focal points for spiritual guidance. His legacy as a master sculptor endures, leaving an indelible mark for the generations that comes and appreciate.  

Metal Painting

In this article let us together learn how to paint METAL surfaces like Roof Painting and other metal painting. 

We are a strong advocate of clean and healthy preparation of the paint surface before painting. Proper preparation not only saves resources to the owner but it does ensure the longevity of the surfaces (metal or wood) and the topcoats. Cleaning and applying the right primer does make a lot of difference. Even premium metal primer and paint tend to lose their sheen (Learn Sheen) if proper surface preparation is not accorded. So do clean and prepare thoroughly before you put your hands on the brush and the rollers. Here we have a few ways to paint any metal surface:

Clean Metal surface: The metal surface should be free from dirt, grease, old paint and rust.  Remove all of them with the help of sandpaper, pressure wash if possible, or some mineral spirits. Cleaning with detergent water could also help wash some dirt.

Peel off loose or peeling paint: Old paint that is loose and peeling off should be removed completely. One can use hand wire brushing, scraping, and sanding (Learn Sanding) techniques for removing old paint. While sanding with a power tool may be faster, they could polish the metal surface abrasively giving adhesion problems.

Remove Rust: Rust is one major issue in metal painting. It affects the adhesion of the paint. So it is very much important to remove the rust deposit before applying the paint. Sparse rust on the metal can be cleaned by brushing and sanding. Using a premium primer on rust affected metal surfaces could bear better results. Painting on a rusted surface will damage both the surfaces and the paint applied.

Repair holes and dents: After removing rust, if there are holes and dents on the roof or surface, fix them to the shape and fill them up with appropriate fillers or sealants. Check with the hardware or paint shop for the sealant options.  

Right Primer: As endorsed in our previous post, priming (Learn Priming )is one of the most important parts of the painting. Water-based primers don’t go good on metal surfaces. The primer available in our market that prevents rust is Iron Oxide.  Check for other options that help averts rusting with the shopkeeper. Apply the primer immediately after surface preparation. This help to keep away flash rusting (corrosion of wet iron) and accumulation of dust on the surface.

Whether you are painting the metal roof, gate or door, the painting process and taking precaution remains the same. Clean the surface properly of any dust or grease, take out any loose or peeling paint, and discard rust. As soon as cleaning and preparation are done, apply a primer coat. Consider enough drying time before applying paint. It's safer to refer to the product description for better results as drying time varies with paint brands.