Culture
In many ways, Bhutan seems to teeter between contemporary and
medieval: monks transcribe ancient Buddhist texts into laptop
computers, traditionally-dressed archers use alloy steel bows
and arrows, and video rental shops do a brisk trade while there
is no television. Bhutan has been described as 'a living museum'
because its ancient dzongs and temples are still the focus of
modern life. Although it is the last Buddhist Himalayan state
you won't find a nation of saintly, ascetic, other-worldly monks,
but a vibrant, fun-loving and well-educated population. Every
aspect of life in the kingdom is guided by the ethics of its official
religion, Drukpa Kagyu Buddhism, and without a rudimentary understanding
of this you'll never get a handle on Bhutan.
All Bhutanese art, dance, drama and music is steeped in Buddhism:
paintings are not produced for tourists, but for religious purposes;
festivals are not quaint revivals, but living manifestations of
a national faith; and almost all art, music and dance represents
the struggle between good and evil. These traditions can be seen
in all their glory at Bhutan's spectacular religious festivals
called tsechus.
Food
Spicy chilies (ema) and cheese (datse) blended with a wide variety
of fresh vegetables are a daily staple of the Bhutanese diet.
Emadatse is the national dish of Bhutan. Red and or white rice
is served at all meals. Meats, poultry and fish are also found
on many Bhutanese menus along Tibetan momos and noodle dishes.
Bhutan's professional chefs temper their natural tendency to over
spice dishes by preparing food more suitable to western taste
ranging from Continental to Chinese and Bhutanese to Tibetan and
Indian.
Archery
Archery is the much loved national sport of Bhutan. Each village
has its own archery range, and it is impossible to imagine any
festival taking place without a high-spirited competition. Contests
take place year round. The distance between the two targets is
about 120 meters. The targets are made of wood splashed with colorful
patterns. Inter-village rivalry is common throughout the kingdom
and this rivalry is no more fiercely expressed than during annual
archery tournaments. They are generally held during Losar (Bhutanese
New Year coinciding with February or March of the calender) but
smaller competitions are held throughout the year.
The tournament's excitement begins the night before the contest.
Teams employ astrologers to assist in the selection process and
to cast spells on the opposition. Each team spends the night prior
to the match together in an age-old tradition of sleeping
in the barn or the forest, depending on the outcome of the astrologers
calculations. Apart from improving team spirit, it is thought
that a man should not spend the night before the tournament with
his wife as his concentration may begin to waiver the following
day. The tournament itself begins with initiation ceremonies and
a traditional breakfast. Alcohol flows from early in the day and
spirits are always high. As the day passes and the alcohol takes
effect, the party becomes more and more raucous. Opponents whisper
obscenities into their adversaries' ears and dance diversionary
dances in front of the target. Women from each village participate
in the fun by singing for their team and jeering at the opposing
team.
Weaving
In the high eastern mountain villages you will come across women
moving back and forth in the open-air with wooden slats strapped
to their lower backs. They are Bhutan's weavers who ply their
trade on the open mountainside or field singing gently as they
rock back and forth.Yarns and thread are dyed (vegetable dye)
and dried for a week before being woven into traditional gho and
kira. These are long flowing garments which have become the obligatory
national dress of the kingdom. Weavers produce silk on cotton,
fine wool on cotton and silk on silk textiles: the finest weavers
are usually found in the most remote of the eastern villages.
This art form is passed from generation to generation. Since the
crops grown are just enough to feed the village in a good year.
These hand-loomed textiles are the only way for the village to
get money for supplies. A complete kira is made up from 3 pieces,
the process takes between six months to one year to complete.
The Bhutanese culture prizes these textiles so highly that they
are considered part of a family's wealth and our used as currency.
Truly an amazing art form, found only in the Kingdom of Bhutan.
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