Book Review on Lomba

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My Response to “Lomba”

The story “Lomba” by Pema Euden was another form depicting and describing the festival of Lomba that was prominently celebrated in Western part of Bhutan; Haa, and Paro. In the way of describing the myth behind the festival, it illustrates the values of friendship, relationship, trust, and most importantly the message that we should never take anything for granted. However, the recurring question that struck in my mind while reading was, ‘Can Lu really take human to their world if they skip dinner on that night?’ It is because the entire story was based on prominent myth’s story of Parops and Haaps that skipping dinner on Lomba night is a mysterious thing to do.

            The author has beautifully described about the Lomba night and I generally feel that the purpose of writing this book is to preserve our old tradition. The part that made me zest in reading this book was the complexity that the author creates when the protagonists Seday and Dawa were on the verge of finding their way to Human world by learning the story of Luethrim from Lu called Masel, but he dies without telling his secrets and killer of Masel is said to be their trustee Lu friend called Rigzhen. “I was taken aback. We had been so desparate for an escape for days and kept it from us all along. Did the ones I had trusted with my life turn out to be liars?” (Euden, 2016, p.151). They were doomed by trusting Rigzhen.  Consequently, I learned about Lomba which is a bizarre for me until now and most importantly it reminds me to preserve our positive culture and beliefs by portraying through story that everybody can understand.

The story “Lomba” was created based on historical belief that people of Haa and Paro have, but the instant question that evoke in my mind was; what is the main reason behind Lomba festival did not flourished to the eastern part of Bhutan? “I’m from Trashigang. “We don’t celebrate Lomba. Then why the hell am I here?” (Euden, 2016, p.62).  The character Dawa, who was from Trashigang was also trapped by Lus even though he was not aware of Lomba festival. I want to learn more on the consequences that eastern people will face if they start to celebrate Lomba.

Unlike other stories it was imaginative, has simple language and can easily connect to the personal experiences of our life. It expresses about the friendship, family and consequences behind trusting others easily. The story illustrates the festival that they celebrate and in a way connects to a myth’s story behind not eating dinner on that night. It was an amazing Bhutanese culture story engulfed by a myth.

References

                Euden, P. (2016). Lomba.Thimphu, Bhutan: Kuensel Coorporation Limited.