Boot hunt in Bhutan as coronation nears

Thimphu, Oct. 29: It’s celebration time in Bhutan the next week and everyone’s making sure that they have the perfect dress for the occasion, particularly boots.

Thousands of Bhutanese, both men and women, are looking for their pair of "tshoglams" or traditional boots to be worn during the coronation and centenary celebrations from November 6. The demand for "tshoglhams" from civil servants, scout members, dancers, volunteers or others involved in the celebrations, has kept boot makers here busy. "We’ve received orders for 2,000 pairs of tshoglhams," said a boot-maker in Chubachu.

"Our boys are working for 18 hours to meet the demand," said Dralham Tshongla Detshen’s owner Kinzang Dorji.

While it is mandatory only for civil servants of officers grade to wear tshoglhams during official gatherings, orders are coming from people involved in the celebrations and even the public. "It’s a huge demand as we hardly sold about 200 boots last year," said Dorji.

According to him, tshoglham-making is a delicate and time-consuming job involving a lot of needlework and patience.

"The upper part of the boot is easier to make, since most of it is done by machine, but the lower portion, requiring about 90 per cent handwork, is difficult," he said. A "tshoglham", without embroidery, costs Nu 2,000, and one with full embroidery costs Nu 5,000. —PTI