Arya News - Khoma Gewog in Bhutan`s Lhuentse is known for its tradition of weaving Kishuthara, a craft that has sustained families and been passed down through generations.
LHUNTSE – Khoma Gewog in Lhuentse is known for its tradition of weaving Kishuthara, a craft that has sustained families and been passed down through generations.
But for 92-year old weaver, Sither Lhamo, the future of the craft is a growing concern. She has passed on her skills to younger members in her family, who are keen to keep the traditional craft alive.
However, she worries that fewer young people are taking up weaving as they pursue higher education and move to urban centres or abroad in search of salaried jobs.
With the younger generations migrating in search of education and employment opportunities, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain interest in the traditional art, as about 70 percent of the gewog’s 370 households actively practice weaving.
Pema Dechen, who has been weaving for 22 years, taught her two daughters when they were just eight years old. Through their work, her daughters earned around Nu 10,000 by selling handwoven scarves, table runners, and small items to international tourists.
“Most young people leave to seek jobs in cities or go to Australia after completing Classes 10 and 12,” Pema Dechen said. “Only a few remain. Those who fail to find other jobs return to weaving to meet their daily needs.”
For weavers like Pema Dechen, teaching the next generation is not only a way of preserving a traditional craft but also of ensuring that the skills continue to provide an opportunity for young people to earn a living.
Beyond out-migration, changing lifestyles and digital distractions have altered youth engagement with the craft. Jamyang Choden, 33, learned the trade from her mother and grandmother at the age of 10 and passed the skill on to her two daughters, aged 11 and 14.
Jamyang Choden said that during school vacations, mothers teach their children how to weave. However, unless they monitor them, the children show little interest and spend most of their time on their phones.
“I am unsure if they will be interested in weaving in the future. Most village residents my age have already left for Thimphu or Australia,” she said. “Once the current generation of weavers stops, there may be no weavers left.”
Weaving Kishuthara is extremely labour-intensive, often taking two months to produce a single kira.
Another weaver, Singay Zangmo, 37, explained that young people who spend years studying naturally seek opportunities with fixed monthly incomes. “Weaving requires continuous physical work. If a weaver falls sick, work gets delayed, which delays payment. A regular job provides financial stability every month.”
The gewog’s demographic decline reflects these shifts. According to the Gup, Khoma Gewog had a population of around 2,000. Today, only around 1,000 residents remain.
To counter the decline and revive interest among the youth, local authorities and development partners are stepping in.
Khoma Gup Tshering Wangdi said the gewog plans to host a Kishuthara Festival in December to showcase the heritage of the textile and inspire children to take up weaving.
“Although some young people leave for better opportunities, the strong market prices for authentic handwoven textiles can still encourage them to continue,” the gup said.
Infrastructure support has also improved marketing avenues. In 2024, the Department of Tourism, with technical support from UNDP and funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), established a dedicated weaving centre in Khoma.
Managed by the village’s Kishuthara group, the centre enables weavers to display and market their products directly to buyers, sparing them the trip to Thimphu.
The centre generated around Nu 900,000 during the tourist season, primarily from sales of smaller items like scarves and table runners.