Bhutan King Graces the Opening of Parliament’s Winter Session
To mark the reinstatement of the Yojay practice, the government offered the inaugural Yojay offering, demonstrating profound respect for the tradition.
Thimphu: His Majesty The King, in a grand ceremonial gesture, graced the opening ceremony of the final session of the Third Parliament, held yesterday. The occasion was marked by expressions of gratitude, reverence, and deep appreciation for His Majesty’s unwavering dedication to the welfare of Bhutan.
National Assembly Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel, on behalf of the Parliament, extended heartfelt gratitude to His Majesty The King and Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen for the royal gift of a princess born on September 9. He offered prayers for the long life and well-being of Her Royal Highness the Gyalsem.
In response to His Majesty The King’s command, the Zhung Dratshang declared the day as “Dratshang Yojay Gi Nyim,” a day dedicated to making offerings to the central monastic body. The Yojay practice involves voluntary offerings by the affluent to the Monastic Body, believing it accumulates merit. Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel praised the revival of this tradition, highlighting its role in preserving Bhutan’s culture and tradition, particularly among the youth.
To mark the reinstatement of the Yojay practice, the government offered the inaugural Yojay offering, demonstrating profound respect for the tradition.
His Majesty The King’s recent visits to Japan and the United States, where meetings with global business and economic leaders took place in preparation for Bhutan’s economic development endeavors, were acknowledged with deep gratitude by the Speaker. His Majesty’s noble efforts in this regard were lauded by the Parliament.
Additionally, His Majesty The King demonstrated remarkable compassion by personally visiting various parts of the country to understand the challenges faced by the people, providing Kidu (royal assistance) to those in need. His Majesty also visited and met with the victims of the Ungar flash flood that occurred on July 20, underscoring his commitment to the well-being of his subjects.
The Parliament conveyed profound gratitude for His Majesty’s compassion and noble actions.
Furthermore, Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel expressed Parliament’s heartfelt appreciation to His Holiness the Je Khenpo and the Zhung Dratshang for their continuous prayers for the world’s well-being, including those affected by the Ungar flash flood. His Holiness also led a prayer for the souls of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The Parliament recognized His Holiness The Je Khenpo’s magnanimous donation of Nu 10 million to support elderly monks in old age care homes and the entrustment of the management of the Medicinal and Recreational Park in Sarpang to the Gelephu Thromde, which promises to benefit all Bhutanese in the future.
During the 10th session of Parliament, important deliberations are scheduled, including discussions about the agreement on the movement of traffic-in-transit between Bhutan and Bangladesh, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Charter, the Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities, the Biological Corridor Nine Bill of Bhutan, and various other motions and reports.
Among the significant topics of discussion will be the review report of the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Annual Report 2022-2023, the Public Accounts Committee’s review report on the Performance Audit Reports, and the State of the Nation report by the Prime Minister, including legislative and annual plans and priorities of the government.
The Parliament of Bhutan, under the auspices of His Majesty The King, begins this session with a sense of gratitude, unity, and a commitment to the welfare and progress of the nation.
