THE KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

Welcome to the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan is located between India and China (Tibet). The mighty Himalayas protected Bhutan from the rest of the world and left it blissfully untouched through the centuries. The Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism provided the essence of rich culture and fascinating history. The Bhutanese people protected this sacred heritage and unique identity for centuries by choosing to remain shrouded in a jealously guarded isolation.

Bhutan is one of the world's most exclusive tourist destination. Bhutan still preserves all the authenticity of its culture and tradition from dress code to language as well as Buddhism. Perhaps most important of all – the warm smiles and genuine friendliness of the people. Each moment is distinctive as one discovers a country, which its people have chosen to preserve in all its magical purity. After all, experience yourself is much better than reading a thousand times. We are always looking forward to serving you in our country.

Bhutan`s climate ranges from tropical in the south, to temperate in the center of the country, too cold in the north. Weather can vary dramatically from place to place, day to day or even within the same day. In the Thimphu and Paro valleys, daytime temperature in winter averages 20° Centigrade during clear winter days but drops well below freezing during the night.

Mid December to early January can be beautifully clear and dry in Western Bhutan. Fluctuations are not so dramatic in summer and daytime temperatures often rise to 30° Centigrade.The Punakha and the central valley tend to be warmer. The high mountain peaks are snow covered through the year and the mountain passes, especially Thrumsing La (between Bumthang and Mongar), can be treacherous during winter. Thimphu and Paro have light snowfall in winter, and once in a while comes a heavy snowstorm.

The rain laden monsoon winds hit Bhutan from late May to early October. Valleys in the inner mountains receive less than 800 mm of precipitation annually, while the lowlands receive as much as 5,500 mm. The views of the Himalayas are completely obscured by clouds and rain from May to August. The spectacular rhododendrons bloom in the verdant valleys in this season. Autumn, October and November, is mild and "fall colours" are dominant. Spring is multihued and can only be compared to an artist's palette.

Best time to visit
Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit Bhutan, particularly the months of October and November, when the skies are clear and you can get stunning views of the mountain peaks. For those who wish to catch a Bhutanese festival, especially the masked dance of the monks, the months to be there are October and March.

Bhutanese culture is one of the distinctive cultures in the world. As a tiny country with a very small population the need to preserve culture and tradition is amplified. This unique culture is a means of protecting the sovereignty of the nation. The distinctiveness of the culture and tradition is visible in the everyday life of the Bhutanese.

Birth
The birth of the child is always welcomed without gender discrimination. The outsiders, normally, do not visit the child for first three days as the house is considered polluted by kaydrip (defilement by birth). Thus, a purification ritual (Lhabsang) is conducted in the house, after which the outsiders come to the house to see the new born baby. Gifts are brought for the newborn and the mother. The gifts range from rice and dairy products in the rural places to clothes and money in the urban.

The child is not immediately named. Generally, the names are given by religious person. The child is also taken to the temple of the local deity (natal deity) and the name associated with the deity is given. In some cases, the child is given the name of the day on which the child is born. The horoscope of the baby known as kye tsi is written based on Bhutanese calendar. It details out the time and date of the birth, predicts the future of the child, rituals to be executed at different stages in the life of the child as remedy to possible illness, problems and misfortune.

Traditionally, the culture of celebrating birthdays did not exist. However, it has now become popular especially amongst the town and city dwellers.

Marriage
Arranged marriages were popular just a few decades back. Normally, people married among the relatives. For instance, particularly in eastern Bhutan, cross-cousin marriage was a popular tradition. This is now becoming unpopular among the literate mass and most of the marriages take place based on their own choice.

Marriages are conducted in a simple ways. A wedding date is always finalize by astrologers to have prosperity and happiness for a new couple. A small ritual is performed by a lama (priest). However, in some cases dinner parties are organized. The parents, relatives and the friends present scarves (kha-dar) to the couple along with gifts in the form of cash and goods in most cases during the ritual.

In the western part of Bhutan, the husband goes out to the wife's house after marriage while in the eastern Bhutan it's just the reverse. This practice is however not mandatory. The new couple may set up their own household on their own plot of land. Divorce is accepted in the Bhutanese society and carries no stigma. The divorced couple in most situations remarries with new partners. However, compensation is paid by the party seeking separation.

Funeral
Death is the most expensive affair as it does not mean the end. On the contrary, it is merely passing on to another life. Thus many rituals are performed to help the departed soul get a better rebirth. Rituals are performed after the 7th day, 14th day, 21st day and the 49th days of the death. Cremations are done only on a favorable day prescribed by the astrologer but in habitually before the 7th day ritual. Elaborate rituals are also conducted on the death anniversary for three consecutive years with erection of prayer flags in the name of the deceased. The relatives and people of the locality come with alcohol, rice, or other sundry items to attend these rituals.

Food
Bhutanese eat with hands. Eating with spoons is an imported culture. The family members sit on the floor in a circle and the mother serves the food. Most of the Bhutanese still use traditional plates made of wood (dapa/dam/dolom) and bamboo (bangchungs). Before eating they toss some morsels of rice in the air as offering to the deities and spirits. The favorite Bhutanese dishes are Ema Datsi (chili with cheese), Paa (sliced pork and beef) and red rice. No dish goes without chili. People also drink salted butter tea (suja) and alcohol. Doma (betel leaf and areca nut eaten with a dash of lime) is also carried by many in their pouch. Offering of Doma to someone is an act of friendship, politeness and a mark of generosity.

The Bhutanese society is free of class or caste system. Slavery was abolished by the Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck sometimes in the 1950s through a royal edict. Though, few organizations to empower women have been established a few years back, in general the Bhutanese have always been gender sensitive. In general ours is an open and a good-spirited society.

As is the case elsewhere, living in a Bhutanese society generally means understanding some basic norms like Driglam Namzha, the traditional etiquette. This is a norm which desires that the members of the society conduct themselves in harmony and in a similar manner. For instance, wearing a white scarf when visiting a Dzong, monastery and offices where national flag is hoisted, letting the elders and the monks serve themselves first, offering felicitation scarves when someone gets a promotion, greeting the elders or senior officials before they wish you, etc. are some simple manners that synchronizes the society.

Normally, greetings are limited to saying Kuzuzangpo amongst equals. For seniors and elders, the Bhutanese bow their head a bit and say kuzuzangpola. But, the western way of shaking the hands has caught on people of urban areas.

The Bhutanese are also fun-loving people. Dancing, singing, archery playing, stone pitching, partying, social gatherings etc. are common things that one observes. Visiting friends and relatives at any hour of the day without any advance notice or appointment clearly depicts the openness of the Bhutanese society.

It was in the 8th century during the three visits of Guru Rinpoche alias Padmasambhawa that Buddhism began to take firm roots in Bhutan. Till the visit of Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, the people of Bhutan were practicing animism that they referred to as Bon. His first visit was on his mission to treat the gravely ill Sendha Gyab, the king of Bumthang (central Bhutan) in 746 A.D. His visit led to the propagation of the Nyingmapa (the ancient or the older) school of Tibetan Buddhism.

The second visit was from Tibet across the high frozen passes through Singye Dzong in Lhuntse (northeast Bhutan). From Singye Dzong, Guru, in his wrathful form of Dorji Drolo flew to Taktsang in Paro (western Bhutan) on the back of a tigress, who was his consort, Tashi Khyeuden. He meditated there for three months and subdued the demon. Today this place is considered one of the sacred places in Bhutan.
His third visit was not very significant as it was just to put in exile Khikharathoed, the Dog mouth and goat skull king who was anti-Buddhist.

Phajo Drugom Zhigpo's arrival to Bhutan in 1222 is another landmark in the history of Bhutan. He introduced the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Further his sons also worked in spreading the tradition of Drukpa Kagyu school, especially in western Bhutan. In the late 14th Century, lama called Longchen Rabjampa, and Terton Pema Lingpa from Nyingma school also contributed to flourishing Buddhism and established many monasteries mainly in central Bhutan.

One of the most significant historical figures of Bhutan is Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal (Tibetan lama) who came to Bhutan in 1616 after a conflict with the King of Tsang in central Tibet. Besides unifying Bhutan, he also strengthened the Drukpa Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Today, Drukpa Kagyu school is the state religion of Bhutan. However, people also widely follow Nyingmapa and Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism as well as Hinduism.

Besides Guru Rinpoche, Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, Longchen Rabjampa, Terton Pema Lingpa and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, many other lamas had also contributed to the propagation of Buddhism in Bhutan.
It is a country where Buddhism is still vibrant and alive. The Dzongs, monasteries, stupas, prayer flags, and prayer wheels punctuate the Bhutanese landscape. The chime of ritual bells, the sound of gongs, people circumambulating temples and stupas, fluttering prayer flags, red-robed monks conducting the ritual, among many others are all living case in point to reveal that Buddhism is an essential ingredient of Bhutanese life.

One of the most colorful festivals in the Bhutanese calendar is the Tshechu performed in all the Dzongs and in many monasteries and temples spread throughout Bhutan. Tshechu is a mask dance festival to commemorate the events in the life of Guru Rinpochoe who is revered as the second Buddha in Bhutan. There is also a display of Thongdrol, large scroll paintings of deities and saints which have the power to liberate people from sin that they had committed just by seeing it. People gather from all walks of life to witness this significant event. There are many other festivals distinct to different villages which are mostly animistic in nature performed by mediums. The festivals are moment for social get-together where people wear their finest clothes and jewelries.

Tsechu
Classical dances in Bhutan are reflected in the religious mask pageants and ritual dances. With the introduction of Buddhism in the 8th century AD by Guru Padmasambhava from Tibet, ritual and mask dances gained roots in the Bhutanese system as part of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. With the birth of the great Terton (treasure revealer) Pema Lingpa in the 15th century, the mask dances in Bhutan took firm roots and gained an impetus as part of the Bhutanese cultural life. The Ter Cham (treasure dances) and Pe Ling Ging Sum were the most famous of the dances that still continues to this day. In the 17th century with the arrival of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal from Tibet, the mask dances further gained importance. Many new dances were introduced. The Puna Domchoe was introduced in Punakha Dzong as accompaniment to the prayers to the protector deity Pel yeshey Gonpo (Mahakala). Je Kuenga Gyeltshen, the reincarnation of Jampel Dorji also introduced a dance in honour of Pelden Lhamo (mahakali) in Trashichhodzong. Some of the celebrated dances are Zhana cham or the Black Hat dance, the Degyed cham or the Spirit dance, the Shinje cham or the Yamaraja dance, the Durdag cham or the Dance of Shamashan Lord and the Guru Tshengyed or the Dance of the Eight manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava.

The religious dances are symbolic and have a common theme to destroy or trample the evil spirits. The swords of the dancers symbolize cutting through ignorance while the drums drive away all malevolent evils and demons. Witnessing the dances is believed to remove sin and take one closer towards attaining nirvana or enlightenment.

Dances are performed annually in all important Dzongs, temples and in monasteries and usually lasts for three to five days. The occasion is known as Tshechu as they are normally performed on the 10th day of the months and is an occasion for the village people to gather round and partake in the festive occasion. Dressed in their finest clothes the village people and their families mix around and be a part of this grand spectacular occasion reveling in their packed lunches and ara.

Economists argue that happiness can be obtained with material development. However, Bhutan explains the case differently trying to advocate by saying that material growth does not necessarily lead to happiness. In Bhutan, progress is not measured by the Gross Domestic Product but by Gross National Happiness.

The Late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck expressed his view on the goal of development as making "the people prosperous and happy." The importance of "prosperity and happiness" was highlighted in the King's address on the occasion of Bhutan's admission to the United Nations in 1971. This vision was further elaborated by the Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck who declared in the first years of his reign that "our country's policy is to consolidate our sovereignty to achieve economic self-reliance, prosperity and happiness for our country and people."

While the emphasis is placed on both, prosperity and happiness, the latter is considered of more significance. The Fourth Druk Gyalpo emphasized that for Bhutan "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product" and this is now being fleshed out by a wide range of professionals, scholars and agencies across the world.

Concerned about the problems afflicting countries that focused only on economic growth, Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to make the nation's priority not it's G.D.P. but its G.N.H. (Gross National Happiness). He suggested that the progress of nations be measured by "Gross National Happiness" for the rich are not always happy while the happy generally consider themselves rich. While conventional development models stress economic growth as the ultimate objective, the concept of GNH claims to be based on the premise that actual development of human society takes place when material and spiritual development occur side by side to complement and reinforce each other.
Gross National Happiness comprises of four pillars:

1. equitable and equal socio-economic development,
2. preservation and promotion of cultural and spiritual heritage,
3. conservation of environment and
4. good governance which are interwoven, complementary, and consistent.

They embody national and local values, aesthetics, and spiritual traditions.
GNH has allowed Bhutan to both expand its network of roads and increase its forest cover. In most other developing countries the arrival of roads is inevitably followed by deforestation. Bhutan's move towards GNH has been indeed fruitful. For example, the high-value low volume tourism policy has facilitated high revenue generation as well as promotion and preservation of cultural and traditional values.

Guided by Gross National Happiness Bhutan has tread the trail of economic development but not to the detriment of the Happiness of her people. This development philosophy has made the lives of the Bhutanese comfortable by embracing the Middle Path. Bhutan has savored immense stride of economic progress that had complemented in the preservation and promotion of the four pillars of Gross National Happiness. Thus, Bhutan extols its forest cover and diversity of flora and fauna when elsewhere many species are disappearing and are on the verge of extinction. In an age of globalization, Bhutanese spiritual, cultural and traditional values continue to influence the lives of the Bhutanese. The government strives to enhance self-reliance and reduce the gap between the rich and poor. Intensive efforts have been made to ensure good governance for it is the primary source of progress and happiness.