Bhutanese Culture

Bhutanese take their culture very seriously. A law decrees that traditional dress will be worn in daylight hours. Men wear a heavy robe, tied at the waist by a sash (gho) and folded to create a pocket in front of the stomach. Women wear colourful blouses, over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth (kira), creating a long skirt. Men must also wear a white sash from left shoulder to right hip when visiting a dzong or temple.

our guide and his wife

gardener at the Thimphu Dzong

men must wear a white scarf to visit the Dzong

woman shopping

children at roadside camp

high school girls

Bhutan is a Buddhist nation, with a strong monastery system. Decorations, prayer flags, sculptures of deities, all echo buddhist teachings and practices.

traditional decoration

prayer flags on the covered bridge Thimphu

traditional Buddhist scrolls and texts

window design

Padmasambava, second Buddha, who brough Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan

Chorten and prayer flags at Dochu La mountain pass

Traditions are kept alive by constant practise, so all the old festivals are still held, with dancers in each area joining together to bring health, happiness and prosperity to their homes and farms. Traditional crafts are maintained through a craft school in Thimphu, the capitol city. Artisans are trained in painting, sculpture, textiles, woodwork, and so on. Paper for sacred texts is hand made from daphne bushes that grow on the mountains. Every home has an altar for prayer and practises to maintain harmony and balance in life.

festival at a small eastern dzong

women dancing at festival

learning Buddhist sculpture

tradiational sewing designs

monastery courtyard, dancers and onlookers

monks practising their dance for a festival

every small home has an altar

Land and houses are owned by women. On marriage the husband goes to live with the wife’s family. Women have respect equal to that of men in Bhutanese society. Food is simple and delicious, usually red rice, vegetables, lentils, chillies and cheese.

women own the land, the husband moves to her family home

making paper from daphne

bhutanese meal

women weave, but men make the clothes

archery is the national sport

the target is very small!

carrying bracken

boys playing darts

Archery is the national sport, enjoyed by all as a social occasion, s of course we had a chance to try it. Darts is widely played too, here is a photo of young boys playing using stumps of wood as a target. I have tried to illustrate some of the customs of the Bhutanese people, without going into too much detail. If you are interested to learn more try the Wikipedia article. It is a marvellous place to visit, with wonderfully friendly people but you need to take precautions against car-sickness as there are no straight roads, only winding ones!