Feature: Kingdom of Bhutan rejoices over birth of crown prince

The Kingdom of Bhutan has been rejoicing and celebrating spiritedly for days following the birth of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck's baby boy on February 5.

Wishes and prayers started pouring in even before the Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay appeared on national television to announce the birth of the Royal Crown Prince (Gyalsey).

For the country of some 700,000 people, it was a long-awaited moment and assurance of the continuity of the Wangchuk Dynasty that has been ruling the country since 1907.

The King married Queen Jetsun in 2011 and her pregnancy was announced on November 11, last year in Thimphu, in a national address on the 60th anniversary of the birth of his father.

Educated in India and Britain, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck ascended to the throne in 2006 after his father's abdication. In March 2008, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and held its first democratic election.

"Our happiness knows no bounds, as we announce the Royal birth of the Gyalsey," the royal press office quoted the royal couple as saying. "The Queen and Prince are both in good health."

Social media in Bhutan were flooded with expressions of happiness and good wishes for the royal couple and their baby boy. Good wishes from abroad were also expressed and the significance of the birth of The Gyalsey was recognized by India's President, Pranab Mukherjee, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, also offered his congratulations to the couple via social media.

Unlike elsewhere, the people of the Buddhist nation celebrate the birth the following day by visiting sacred sites, offering thousands of butter lamps and receiving blessings. Hundreds of sacred religious ceremonies were conducted across the country's two districts, with a variety of trees being planted and thousands of butter lamps offered to honor and thank the mighty guardians and Buddha for the birth of the Prince.

Former education minister, Thakur Singh Powdyel, in a statement said that the Bhutanese people have a deep and abiding loyalty to the throne and a profound reverence for the position of the Druk Gyalpo in the scheme of national life.

"We receive today the wish-fulfilling jewel of our fervent prayers. Our hearts rejoice and exult, our minds uplift and expand our being with thanks and celebration," said the former minister, adding that the sacred birth of our Royal Prince, precious Gyalsey, of our beloved King and gracious Queen betokens "the rising of a new sun to light our way to the future of our dreams."

Hundreds of well-wishers gathered at these nyes (sacred sites), dzongs and lhakhangs, across the country, to offer prayers of gratitude on the auspicious and joyous occasion of the royal birth.

People offered Karmi Kom (butter lamps) and hoisted prayer flags at sacred sites. The Bhutanese diaspora overseas also offered prayers in celebration of the historic moment.

Sangay Khandu, 47, from the highland village of Merak, in the eastern district of Trashigang, rushed to Dratshang on foot immediately after he heard the news of the birth. "Under the dynamic reign of our kings, we have seen our nation grow from strength to strength. We wish His Majesty The King, Her Majesty The Queen and The Gyalsey good health and happiness," said Khandu.

Even those who gave birth on the same date as that of the Prince considered themselves lucky and blessed. More than 29 babies were born in the hospitals across the country on February 5. Endit