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When most of us stayed at home during the lockdown in August, health workers were among the frontline workers working tirelessly everyday, carrying out thousands of tests, caring for patients and ensuring health services were accessible to the people even during lockdown.

It has been 5 months since the first COVID-19 case was detected in Bhutan- the pandemic continues to disrupt lives and economies globally. Different countries areaddressing the challenge in their own ways, with varying degrees of success.

June came to an end with the auspicious Trelda Tsechu- the tenth day of the Monkey month of the Bhutanese calendar, which is the Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche. On this special day, His Royal Highness the Second Gyalsey has been named Ugyen Wangchuck. ?

June is a very special month, especially this year, as Her Majesty turns 30 on the 4th of the month. In commemoration of this exceptional milestone, we are honoured to share, for the very first time, a Kupar of our beloved King, Queen and Gyalsey with His Royal Highness the newly born Prince. His Royal Highness’ name will be announced in the coming days. ?

This month’s calendar features the Daga Tashi Yangtse Dzong in Dagana. Built on the instructions of the Zhabdrung in the 1650’s, the Dzong in Dagana is an important historic structure that contributed to consolidate the unity of Bhutan. His Majesty recently visited the Dzong and offered prayers during a tour of the central-southern dzongkhags to oversee COVID-19 preparations.

Our calendar for April features Sangay Menlha, the Medicine Buddha. Sangay Menlha is invoked in the Buddhist tradition to assist in the healing of illnesses of both the body and mind. Depicted in blue, the Medicine Buddha holds a bowl containing the elixir of life in the left hand and a medicinal herb in the right.