The choeten that was once popular

The choeten that was once popular

Sangay Zam spends most of her time praying at the Saachag choeten (stupa). In her twilight years, retiring to a life of prayers is all she wants and the choeten is her favorite place.
Located beside the road from Chamkhar to Jambay Lhakhang above Wangduecholing hospital in Bumthang, the sacred choeten is a favourite place for elders to gather. But not many visit it anymore, according to Sangay Zam.
She said that most of the Bumthaaps are not aware of a choeten. “The Saachag choeten is important as it was here that Guru Rinpoche conducted his first sermon to the people of Bumthang,” she said.
There are no written records about the choeten. Chakhar Lam Droji’s son Tenzin said Bumthang was named Choekhor after this sermon. “I often go to the choeten to pray but I hardly see young people even during auspicious days (DeZang),” he said.
He added that the choeten was called Chokaling Choeten and it was constructed out of mud. “We could see Guru’s seat (zhugthri), the choeten was constructed to keep the zhugthri secure,” he said. He added that not many people visit this choeten because they don’t know how sacred it is.
Meanwhile, a villager, Sonam Dorji from Wangduecholing said that he have heard from his grandparents about this choeten. He said that there is a rock vessel that can still be seen at Batpalathang. “Some Bumthaaps believe that the vessel in which Khando prepared ara and offered to Guru Rinpoche,” he said.
Gyeltshen 49, from Wangduecholing, said people of Wangduecholing looked “When I was young, many elderly people circumambulated the choeten and pray, even my parents come here during auspicious days but many have passed away and not many visit the choeten anymore.