Everything about Bhutan totally explained
The
literacy rate is 59.5%
(External Link
). The country has a median age of 22.3 years (World Population Prospects- The 2006 Revision, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division). Bhutan has a
life expectancy of 62.2 years (61 for males and 64.5 for females) according to the latest data from the
World Bank. There are 1,070 males to every 1,000 females in the country.
It is estimated that between two third and three quarter of the Bhutanese population follow
Mahayana Buddhism, which is also the
state religion. About one quarter to one third are followers of
Hinduism. Muslim and non-religious communities account for less then 1 % of the population. The current legal framework in principal guarantees freedom of religion,
proselytism however is forbidden by a Royal Government decision.
Culture
Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact due to its isolation from the rest of the world until the early 1960s. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country's culture and traditions. Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage
(External Link).
Hinduism is the second dominant religion in Bhutan, being most prevalent in the southern regions. Both religions co-exist peacefully and receive support from the government
(External Link), and enjoy royal patronage. The government is increasingly making efforts to preserve and sustain the current culture and traditions of the country. Due to its largely unspoilt natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has aptly been referred to as
The Last Shangri-la.
While the Bhutanese are free to travel abroad, Bhutan is seen to be inaccessible to many foreigners. There is a widespread misconception that Bhutan has set limits on tourist visas. However it's the high tourist tariff and requirement to go on packaged tours that makes Bhutan an exclusive tourist destination.
The National Dress for Bhutanese men is the
gho, which is a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the
kera. Women wear an ankle-length dress, the
kira, which is clipped at one shoulder and tied at the waist. An accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved blouse, the
toego, which is worn underneath the outer layer. Social status and class determine the texture, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments. Differently coloured scarves and shawls are important indicators of social standing, as Bhutan has traditionally been a
feudal society. Jewellery is mostly worn by women, especially during religious festivals and public gatherings. To strengthen Bhutan's identity as an independent country, Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese citizens to wear the national dress in public areas and as formal wear.
Rice,
buckwheat, and increasingly
maize, are the staple foods of the country. The diet also includes
pork,
beef,
yak meat,
chicken, and
mutton. Soups and stews of meat and dried vegetables spiced with chillies and cheese are prepared.
Ema datshi, made very spicy with cheese and chilies, might be called the national dish for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular, and indeed almost all milk is turned to butter and cheese. Popular beverages include
butter tea, tea, locally brewed rice wine and
beer. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have banned the sale of
tobacco.
Bhutan's national sport is
archery, and competitions are held regularly in most villages. It differs from
Olympic standards not only in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. There are two targets placed over 100 meters apart and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. Each member of the team shoots two arrows per round. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event and competitions are organized between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There are usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing. Wives and supporters of the participating teams cheer. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter's ability. Darts (
khuru) is an equally popular outdoor team sport, in which heavy wooden darts pointed with a 10 cm nail are thrown at a paperback-sized target ten to twenty meters away.
Another traditional sport is the
digor, which can be best described as
shot put combined with horseshoe throwing.
Cricket has gained remarkable popularity in Bhutan especially since the heavy influx of Indian Television. Their national Cricket Team is one of the more successful associate nations in the region.
Football is an increasingly popular sport. In 2002, Bhutan's national football team played
Montserrat - billed as
The Other Final, the match took place on the same day Brazil played Germany in the World Cup Final, but at the time Bhutan and Montserrat were the world's two lowest ranked teams. The match was held in Thimphu's
Changlimithang National Stadium, and Bhutan won 4-0. A documentary of the match was made by the Dutch filmmaker
Johan Kramer.
Rigsar is the new emergent style of popular music, played on a mix of traditional instruments and electronic keyboards, and dates back to the early 1990s; it shows the influence of Indian popular music, a hybrid form of traditional and Western popular influences. Traditional genres include the
zhungdra and
boedra.
Characteristic of the region is a type of castle fortress known as
the dzong. Since ancient times, the dzongs have served as the religious and secular administration centres for their respective districts.
Bhutan has numerous public holidays, most of which centre around traditional seasonal, secular and religious festivals. They include the
winter solstice (around
January 1, depending on the lunar calendar), the lunar New Year (February or March), the King's birthday and the anniversary of his coronation, the official start of monsoon season (
September 22), National Day (
December 17), and various Buddhist and Hindu celebrations.
Masked dances and dance dramas are common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. Energetic dancers, wearing colourful wooden or composition face masks and stylized costumes, depict
heroes,
demons,
dæmons, death heads,
animals,
gods, and
caricatures of common people. The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve
ancient folk and religious
customs and perpetuate the ancient
lore and
art of mask-making.
Inheritance in Bhutan generally goes in the female rather than the male line. Daughters will inherit their parents' house. A man is expected to make his own way in the world and often moves to his wife's home.
Love marriages are the norm in the urban areas nowadays but the tradition of
arranged marriages is still common in the villages. Although uncommon,
polygamy and
polyandry are accepted; often being a device to keep property in a contained family unit rather than dispersing it.
Further Information
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