Gomkora Festival , Bhutan

Around 22km from Trashigang, there lies the picturesque temple of Gom Kora or Gomphu Kora. It occupies a significant place in the mind of the Bhutanese people as Guru Rinpoche is said to be meditated here and left a body impression on the rock.

This very temple is the the venue for the Gomkora Festival which is one of the biggest festivals in eastern Bhutan providing a welcome break for locals to trade, socialize, and celebrate before the start of the farming season. During this festival, this place comes alive with people all over eastern Bhutan descend upon the narrow valley, dressed in fineries, to partake in the festivity, to worship and to reunite themselves with their illustrious past. The entire scene is colourful and joyous with the traditional charm. Towards dusk, the devotees join a ocean of crowd for the clockwise circumambulation of the temple and the rock chanting the omnipotent mantra of Guru Rinpoche.

The festival draws people from remote villages, school children, village youths, businessmen, civil servants, and the Dakpa tribe in of Tawang, neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh (India). Many nomadic tribes from Merak and Sakten also come here during this period and for many of whom, the evening event results in marriages.