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Description of appeasement rituals for spirits and ghosts

Description: Mr. Tshering describes how to appease spirits and ghosts with wine, water, and smoke. He uses the count of the rosary to determine remedies for sickness. During the process, he recites the Buddha mantra.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 10 minutes 40 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Conversation and demonstration of Nêpo appeasement rituals

Description: After a casual conversation, Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Nêpo, a local ghost or spirit who steals the life force of humans. He appeases Nêpo, asking him to divert life's obstacles.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Abi Phôding appeasement rituals

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Abi Phôding. If someone suddenly has a hearing problem, they could have been cursed by Abi Phôding. To appease her, they put a ladle, an eggshell, and wine at the tri-junction, call her name three times, and ask her to give her ear.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 1 minute 38 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Demonstration of Nêpo appeasement rituals

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Nêpo, a local ghost or spirit who steals the life force of humans. The name Nêpo is Dakpa for 'guest'. He can be appeased by raising prayer flags using mugwort and offering wine. Also present were Gajay and Wangdi's grandchildren.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 1 minute 37 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description and demonstration of Mamo appeasement rituals

Description: Bonism is a traditional form of worship involving rituals related to healing and the earth. Some Bon rituals are performed only by certain individuals (Bonpos). In this recording, Bonpo Karma Wangdi demonstrates a ritual appeasement of Mamo (also known as Lamringbu). His wife and extended family are present because they have not seen this ritual performed for the last 15 years. Mr. Wangdi is the last known Bonpo in Chema village in the Trashi Yangste District of Bhutan. He also belongs to the f… more
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 6 minutes 36 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description and demonstration of astrological prediction

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi demonstrates astrology prediction on Gajay using rice, water, incense, and a rosary. When he dips rice into the water, if there is any spirit harming the patient, then the rice will be scattered at the edges of the bowl. If cursed, the rice will stand upward. He concludes that no spirits are harming Gajay; however, he recommends Gajay to offer appeasement wine to the local deity.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 3 minutes 59 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Tshong Tshongma appeasement rituals and offerings

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Tshong Tshongma. This is a very important deity in eastern Bhutan, especially to the people in its vicinity. People bow three times and give offerings. When someone is seriously ill near Tshong Tshongma, they would sacrifice an ox as an offering.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 6 minutes 53 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of Arpo ritual song

Description: Before the Arpo rituals, Mr. Karma Wangdi performs a song about royalty in Kongü stating that his body and possessions (sword, helmet, belt, boots, body armor, bow, and arrow) belong to King Gaser Gyalpo.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 1 minute 23 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of stomach pain causes and remedies

Description: Mr. Tshering describes how to cure stomach pain caused by malicious spirits. He uses astrological methods to determine if the patient needs modern medical services or needs to appease the spirits to address the pain. Mr. Tshering is originally from Rolam village, and stayed in Thragom village after his second marriage. This recording was made in the evening after the day's work.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 7 minutes 02 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of fever and body ache causes and remedies

Description: Mr. Tshering describes how he performs divination using the rosary to locate where a person has lost their soul, and who has taken the soul. The count of every rosary indicates different directions, people, things, and events that may cause heavy fever and body ache. Mr. Tshering is originally from Rolam village, and stayed in Thragom village after his second marriage.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 9 minutes 20 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of the Arpo dance ritual, part 7

Description: 'Arpo' is a generic term for the naked dance ritual practiced in Chema village, Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Mr. Karma Wangdi is well-known for his efforts to sustain these rituals in Chema village. In this recording, the seventh stage of the dance ritual, each dancer is introduced to the audience as the son of a warrior, Gämo, Lhamo (protector deity of Tibet and Bhutan), Sangda Rabgay of Lingkhar, and their journey toward the eastern direction towards Hör.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 3 minutes 23 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of the Arpo dance ritual, part 1

Description: 'Arpo' is a generic term for the naked dance ritual practiced in Chema village, Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Mr. Karma Wangdi is well-known for his efforts to sustain these rituals in Chema village. In this recording, he performs the first stanza of naked dance which describes the origin of Arpo.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 08 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of the Arpo dance ritual, part 5

Description: 'Arpo' is a generic term for the naked dance ritual practiced in Chema village, Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Mr. Karma Wangdi is well-known for his efforts to sustain these rituals in Chema village. In this recording, he is asking the divine being again to fulfill his wishes: "May I have the best of everything?" The stanza is repeated before and after the sword dance.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 38 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of the Arpo dance ritual, part 4

Description: 'Arpo' is a generic term for the naked dance ritual practiced in Chema village, Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Mr. Karma Wangdi is well-known for his efforts to sustain these rituals in Chema village. In this recording, he is asking the divine being to fulfill his wishes: "May I have the best of everything?"
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 43 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of the Arpo dance ritual, part 9

Description: 'Arpo' is a generic term for the naked dance ritual practiced in Chema village, Trashiyangtse, Bhutan. Mr. Karma Wangdi is well-known for his efforts to sustain these rituals in Chema village. In this recording, he describes the warriors, male and female, who accompanied king Gäser Gyelpo. This recording was done in the early hours of the day during a light rainfall.
Date: June 19, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 05 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of healing rituals for serious patients

Description: Mr. Tshering describes how to cure a serious patient using various rituals including preparing an elaborate feast, offering jewelry, and dressing as ransom to get back the soul of the patient.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 11 minutes 56 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Mamo Zomsa prediction

Description: Mr. Tshering describes the practice Mamo Zomsa (gathering all ghosts) which uses astrology and a rosary to determine the cause of a sickness. The rosary indicates the astrological predictions with different numbers: 3 for sickness caused by the union of Mamo and his family, or 5 for those caused by the Mamo family and servants.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 11 minutes 55 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of healing rituals and remedies

Description: Mr. Tshering introduces himself and explains how long he has been performing rituals, the cause of various diseases, and remedies for stomach aches. He also talks about his marriage life and resettlement.
Date: July 14, 2022
Duration: 5 minutes 57 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Lamring Mü ritual

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Lamring Mü ritual which is used to chase away spirits before taking a sick person to the hospital. First, some simple ritual ceremonies are performed at home to clear the spirits. This is because if the doctor or nurse injects the sick person, the spirit within the sick person’s body could instantly die. Mr. Wangdi is the last known Bonpo (practitioner of Bon rituals) in Chema village in the Trashi Yangste District of Bhutan. He also belongs to the first generatio… more
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 3 minutes 51 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of an epic poem song

Description: Performance of a song about royalty in Kongü from the epic of King Gaser Gyalpo of Lithang by Mr. Karma Wangdi.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 11 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Mamo appeasement rituals

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Mamo, the holder of all sickness. Three flags representing the father, mother, and son of Mamo are used to request forgiveness for any wrongdoing.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 4 minutes 54 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Performance of an epic poem introduction

Description: Performance of an introductory song from the epic of King Gaser Gyalpo of Lithang by Mr. Karma Wangdi.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 11 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information

Description of Garpo appeasement rituals

Description: Mr. Karma Wangdi describes the Bon ritual ceremonies used to appease Garpo, also known as Nepo. These involve raising and/or sacrificing a pig, depending on the patient.
Date: June 18, 2022
Duration: 2 minutes 59 seconds
Creator: Tshewang, Tashi
Partner: UNT College of Information
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