Lucky Pem winners share how life has changed since National Day

2026-02-20 - 07:45

Three months have passed since the Lucky Pem online lottery drew its winners on Bhutan’s 118th National Day, and the money, Nu 15 million, Nu 10 million, Nu 5 million, has begun to reshape lives in quiet, meaningful ways. Tshering Yangzom, a mother from Lhuentse, remembers the moment the first prize was announced. She had purchased lottery tickets before but never won. Therefore, the Nu 15 million Lucky Pem prize left her momentarily speechless. At the time, she had no clear plans for the money beyond expressing her gratitude to Kenchosum and the organizers of Lucky Pem. Since then, she has begun putting the prize to use in ways that bring both relief and joy to her family. Tshering shared that she had not been able to send her parents and grandparents on a pilgrimage, something she could now afford. She said, “I have been able to send my parents and grandparents on pilgrimage,” noting how happy this has made her feel. Moreover, guided by her faith in Kenchosum, she began by making offerings to monasteries and lamas. Before this unexpected fortune, Tshering Yangzom said she had been earning her livelihood through a tailor shop in Gomtu. She shared that her next step is to have a ritual performed at her residence. “After my family members return from the pilgrimage, I will have a ritual performed at my place,” said Tshering, adding that the ritual is intended to ward off any negative influences. As for the second prize winner, Tshering Phuntsho, from Chumey, Bumthang, known for quietly supporting students and underprivileged families despite his own modest means, Tshering had declared at the time of the draw that his winnings were “meant to help others.” True to his word, he has distributed school uniforms, warm clothes, and donations to local Lhakhangs and schools, traveling between dzongkhags to provide aid where it is most needed. Despite facing several personal and financial challenges, Tshering has long supported students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly because his shop is located near a school. He shared that, in one instance, he helped three female students who were going through personal difficulties by seeking assistance from his relatives, spending a total of Nu 85,000 to support them. Tshering said that his desire to help comes from within, and he takes joy in seeing others happy through his support. He added that, although he lives in Bumthang, he has traveled to other dzongkhags to assist students who lack parental support. Tshering also believes that his good deeds may have contributed to his lottery win, and that the Nu 10 million he received should be used to help even more people. After months of the lottery draw, this paper reached Tshering Phuntsho, where, during the conversation, he was in the process of helping students who were underprivileged by providing their school supplies, starting with uniforms, keeping the promise he made at the time of the lottery draw. He said that he donated his lottery money to two Lhakhangs and a school so far. He said, “I have donated Nu 40,000 to Buli Lhakhang and Nu 10,000 to Domkhar Lhakhang.” Additionally, he has been helping people around the dzongkhags by mostly giving them shoes and warm clothes. For Tshering Phuntsho, winning Nu 10 million allowed him to help far more people than he could have before, even while facing his own financial challenges, as he previously had to rely on the help of his relatives to support those in need. According to Tshering, more than focusing on his own needs, he looks at how he can support underprivileged people, particularly elderly individuals and students. No photos of Tshering Phuntsho were shared, as he believes that good deeds should come from within rather than being publicized. He said, “I am not a person who shares everything publicly; if I do something good, it comes from within rather than publicizing it.” Turning to the third prize winner, Yeshey Rangdrel, from Lhuentse, had described his financial situation as hand-to-mouth at the time of the lottery draw. The unexpected Nu 5 million win came as a surprise, and like the other winners, he had no concrete plans on how to use the money. Having sought help from his friend and brother to register for the lottery, Yeshey shared that he would first offer prayers and settle his loans, while taking time to decide how best to use the remaining amount for his daughter’s future. Since the draw, the unexpected winnings have allowed him to act on these plans and improve his financial situation Having described his financial situation as hand-to-mouth, Yeshey Rangdrel said he had loans to clear, and the sudden win of Nu 5 million brought him much-needed relief. He said, “This lottery money helped me clear my loans.” With his earnings not going toward loan repayments, the win has brought a significant change to his life. “I was even able to help my relatives and offer donations,” he added. Three months on, the story of the Lucky Pem winners is less about the thrill of sudden wealth and more about how lives adjust, choices crystallize, and responsibilities expand. The lottery has brought not only financial relief but also the opportunity to nurture family bonds, preserve traditions, and extend care to the wider community.