Peace and Sustainability: Revive This...

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Revive This...

looked like this...

In the bygone days, our parents, even ourselves as young boys and girls love to gather and treat ourselves with a picnic or commonly know as Bzar chum (in Dzongkha). The planning starts with the identification of the spot, date fixing and then we decide on the menu along with the type of games to be played. We take a cup of rice, lump of salt, some meat, few cheese balls, chillies, tomatoes, onion, and oil with us in a bag and our friends do the same. As boys, we mostly play some sort of sport and feast, and enjoy through the day. Girls form groups and picnic themselves with songs and play. These picnics happen during losars (new year) and special occasions and we used to cherish those moments. I still remember one particular incident from my childhood, when I didn't have meat to contribute and the way I reacted with my mom for not having the same. I cried so loud that my neighbors could hear me and I was literally screaming with anger. Poor mom, she had to go to a neighbor's house to get a piece of meat and my tears vanished when my mom returned with a long piece of meat. I was very happy.

I cherish the vivid pictures from my childhood days of Bzar chum- the way I prepare my arrows or darts on the eve of the occasion, the cooking we used to do, where we mostly ate our meals half cooked or over cooked, the funny dances we used to do, the songs we sang in funny tunes and scales, the moments when we taunted our friends, the names we call each other and a hell lot of other happy incidents.These pictures never come back, yet they live so clearly in our memories.

Today, we are so lost into modernization and we have left behind some important social activities. We no longer contribute cooking stuff nor do we cook and feast ourselves; there are canteens, hotels or some people doing catering, in abundance. The charm of self cooking is long lost. Friends do gather and socialize in today's world but in modern ways. These days, we gather over wine, we gather over a football match, or we go for a packed-lunch picnic. These means are equally interesting in their own ways but Bzar chum has its own charm and I am sad to see the culture dying a slow death.

2nd October 2011, six teachers of our school gathered to revive the custom. We made plans to have a Bzar chum, and we rehearsed the acts as it used to be. We contributed our own ration, cooked ourselves, and played archery for half day. The day was not a great day of some occasion but a special day for us. The ration included a cup of rice, a piece of meat measuring 30 cm or longer, ten chillies, three cheese balls, 2 onions, 2 tomatoes, and a flask of tea. Doesn't it sound interesting? I was the first to reach the spot and I could see my friends rolling in with their archery gears and a small bag, which we don't see during a normal match. My heart lifted to see the scene and some incidents made it feel even more interesting. If I may share some- Mr Dawa sprained his leg the day before but this couldn't keep him away from the days treat..., Mr Kinley had no meat at his home, so he went to the canteen at our place to borrow some; Mr Rinzin brought 5 eggs in substitute to the three cheese balls; and the way they handed me their ration was a journey back to my childhood. We played some games of archery and had a great lunch. The day was filled with emotions, joyous and reflective ones. I was so happy to live my childhood, once more. I love Bzar chums! So friends, Do you think Bzar chums are great? If so, organize one and live your childhood again...