6 November, 2008 - Living to a ripe old age is life’s greatest blessing for 107-year old Abi Sonam Pelzom from Kheng Bjoka in Zhemgang.
Rich in memories of her encounter with Bhutan’s first King, whom she refers to as the king with a beard, the toothless, wrinkled old woman will get to see his great grandson crowned on November 6.
“Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck patted my head when I went to visit my brother Chimila, who served the King in Wangdicholing, Bumthang,” she said.
Brought from Gelephu, where she stays with her only daughter, ever since she was diagnosed with asthma and advised to live in a hot place, on November 2, Abi Sonam Pelzom, one of the four applicants for centenary citizen’s award, lives in Serbithang with her granddaughter today.
Like many Bhutanese, Abi Sonam wishes to offer thri dar to His Majesty. But she is doubtful if her old age and legs would carry her. “I’ll whisper my prayers and good wishes of longevity to the king through the wind if I can’t manage to offer the thri dar,” she said. “But I’ll try to come.”
Having had the privilege to meet all four Kings of Bhutan, her only wish today is to take a photograph with the fifth King. “I have to come out nice in the photograph,” she smiled through her wrinkles.
Though her stream of thought often breaks down, Abi Sonam remembers her visit to Lho Drak Karchung in Tibet, where she offered cotton wicks, which are found in plenty in Kheng Bjoka, instead of money, at all the holy places she visited.
According to Abi Sonam’s daughter, Jigme Lhamo, 71, Abi Sonam claims to have lived so long because of her visit to Lho Drak Karchung, where Jetsun Milarepa, a Tibetan saint, had built a 13-storied castle. “Buddhist believe that one would be blessed with longevity if one visits the place,” Jigme said.
Holding her prayer beads in her left hand, Abi Sonam describes the tall, gigantic Bjoka Koche’s (a noble family in Lower Kheng) palace, all the rooms her uncles occupied, her journey into the interior Kheng villages of Kumari and Gugsangbi, carrying about 50 kg of maize.
All the centenarians in the country will be awarded cash prizes and certificates on December 17. According to Citizens’ Initiative for Coronation and Centenary Celebrations’s Dorji Wangchuk, a grand centenary citizen award would be given to the oldest. “It would be impossible to bring all the centenarians to Thimphu, but we’ll be sending our camerapersons to the places where they live and make documentaries,” he said.
Giving a kera (belt) as a souvenir to a monk, who visits her, Abi Sonam prays that the monk should live long like her. She has a brother, aged 101 in Gelephu.
Rich in memories of her encounter with Bhutan’s first King, whom she refers to as the king with a beard, the toothless, wrinkled old woman will get to see his great grandson crowned on November 6.
“Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck patted my head when I went to visit my brother Chimila, who served the King in Wangdicholing, Bumthang,” she said.
Brought from Gelephu, where she stays with her only daughter, ever since she was diagnosed with asthma and advised to live in a hot place, on November 2, Abi Sonam Pelzom, one of the four applicants for centenary citizen’s award, lives in Serbithang with her granddaughter today.
Like many Bhutanese, Abi Sonam wishes to offer thri dar to His Majesty. But she is doubtful if her old age and legs would carry her. “I’ll whisper my prayers and good wishes of longevity to the king through the wind if I can’t manage to offer the thri dar,” she said. “But I’ll try to come.”
Having had the privilege to meet all four Kings of Bhutan, her only wish today is to take a photograph with the fifth King. “I have to come out nice in the photograph,” she smiled through her wrinkles.
Though her stream of thought often breaks down, Abi Sonam remembers her visit to Lho Drak Karchung in Tibet, where she offered cotton wicks, which are found in plenty in Kheng Bjoka, instead of money, at all the holy places she visited.
According to Abi Sonam’s daughter, Jigme Lhamo, 71, Abi Sonam claims to have lived so long because of her visit to Lho Drak Karchung, where Jetsun Milarepa, a Tibetan saint, had built a 13-storied castle. “Buddhist believe that one would be blessed with longevity if one visits the place,” Jigme said.
Holding her prayer beads in her left hand, Abi Sonam describes the tall, gigantic Bjoka Koche’s (a noble family in Lower Kheng) palace, all the rooms her uncles occupied, her journey into the interior Kheng villages of Kumari and Gugsangbi, carrying about 50 kg of maize.
All the centenarians in the country will be awarded cash prizes and certificates on December 17. According to Citizens’ Initiative for Coronation and Centenary Celebrations’s Dorji Wangchuk, a grand centenary citizen award would be given to the oldest. “It would be impossible to bring all the centenarians to Thimphu, but we’ll be sending our camerapersons to the places where they live and make documentaries,” he said.
Giving a kera (belt) as a souvenir to a monk, who visits her, Abi Sonam prays that the monk should live long like her. She has a brother, aged 101 in Gelephu.
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