The Annual Black-necked Crane festival
The Annual Black-necked crane festival will be celebrated in the courtyard of Gangtey Gonpa, in Phobjikha valley on 11th November 2011. The festival is an occasion for the locals to rejoice and celebrate the arrival of the heavenly bird which becomes part and parcel of their daily lives during the winter months.
The festival generally includes cultural programs such as folk songs and dances (some with black-necked crane themes) and mask dances performed by the local people, crane dance and environmental related drama and songs by the school children. The program usually starts by 9:30 am and lasts till late afternoon.
The festival will be organized by Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC), a local group composed of elected local leaders, women, Government representatives, business community representatives, monks and RSPN representative. The festival was first initiated by RSPN in 1998, and it has now become a part of the local culture in Phobjikha valley.
The organizers would like to welcome everyone to experience the festival, visit the Gangtey Gonpa and see the beautiful black-necked cranes. Be a part of the festival and reward the community for their continued conservation stewardship.