The communities in western Bhutan conducted the tangrag ngoley ritual before the main lochoe ritual or before the new year began. It is conducted in some villages on the 29th day of the 11th month to avert all misfortunes and obstacles to the traditional new year. The religious practice usually adopted for this ritual is one involving exorcism. The negativities of the past and approaching year are dispelled through such a ritual. Because all families in some villages conduct this ritual on the same day, there would be serious shortage of priests who can perform this. Tangrag ritual, in the distant past, was also performed as a ritual of thanksgiving when someone returned safely from a long travel, especially from India.