The maiden event will engage 290 monks at Dechenphodrang Monastic School, making it the first formal cricket programme designed specifically for the monastic community in the country. - Kuensel/ANN
THIMPHU: On a crisp morning at Dechen Phodrang Monastic School in Taba, Thimphu, a new sound echoed through the premise: the crack of cricket bats meeting balls. For the first time in Bhutan’s history, monks in maroon robes lined up to play cricket, as part of the groundbreaking Cricket 4All initiative.
Launched by the Bhutan Cricket Council Board (BCCB) in collaboration with Unicef Bhutan and the Zhung Dratshang (Central Monastic Body), the programme marks a bold step in inclusive sports development, bringing cricket to a community long absent from athletic fields.
The maiden event will engage 290 monks at Dechenphodrang Monastic School, making it the first formal cricket programme designed specifically for the monastic community in the country.
Over time, the initiative will expand to four monastic institutions and a nunnery, reflecting a broader vision of empowerment and inclusion.
According to BCCB’s Chief Executive Officer, Damber S Gurung, the Cricket4All initiative is aimed at building leadership among adolescent monks and nuns through the cricket programme.
He said that the programme intends to promote physical health and community engagement among young monks and nuns through structured cricket training and outreach programmes.
“Monks and nuns are an important part of the community, and sporting opportunities such as cricket are also required to keep themselves both physically and mentally fit,” Damber S Gurung said, adding that the initiative would pave the way for a vibrant cricket culture in monastic institutions in the future.
As part of the programme, BCCB will conduct cricket competitions among monastic institutions, provide training and equipment, and create awareness on healthy living, among others.
The Cricket4All initiative has been funded by Unicef Bhutan since 2017. So far, it has engaged around 1,000 school students in cricket.
BCCB’s President, Thinley Wangchuk Dorji, was the guest of honour. Other dignitaries from the Central Monastic Body and Unicef Bhutan also attended the event.
Sonam Wangchuk, Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist at Unicef Bhutan, said, “School students get opportunities to play many sports, but it is minimal for monks and nuns. So, Unicef tries to address this issue.”
He said that monks and nuns also need sporting opportunities, which are crucial to fostering healthy living, mindfulness, leadership and teamwork.
Monks and lopens at Dechenphodrang Monastic School anticipate that the introduction of cricket in their school will further engage the monks meaningfully in sports, besides maintaining their daily monastic decorum and studies.
Dechenphodrang Monastic School, like many others, already has facilities for football, volleyball, basketball, and carrom. With the addition of cricket, monks now have a wider array of sporting activities to choose from, especially during free periods on Sundays.
“I don’t know how to play cricket although I am a sports enthusiast. With the introduction of the Cricket4All initiative, I am confident that I can learn cricket and play well,” said Monk Dorji.
Khenpo Kinzang Yeshey, Secretary of the Monastic Education Council, underlined the initiative’s deeper resonance. “Monastic education has been part of Bhutan’s tradition for over 400 years, but sports culture within these institutions has remained minimal. We believe that sports and monastic studies share similar values—discipline, mindfulness, and perseverance.”
He added that promoting physical activities within the monastic system is no longer a luxury but a necessity. “A healthy mind and body are essential to excel in monastic education, and as such, monks and nuns should engage in sports.” - Kuensel/ANN
