ABOUT BHUTAN
Bhutan at a Glance
Area: 38,394 sq. km
Population: 757,042 (2015)
Districts: 20
Capital: Thimphu
Currency: Ngultrum
National Language: Dzongkha
General literacy rate (2012): 63%
Forest cover: 70.5%
Political system: Democratic Constitutional Monarchy
Local time: 6 hours ahead of GMT
Telecom operators: Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell
Bhutan Food
Bhutan can be a pleasant delight for those who want to try out unique types of food. The Bhutanese cuisine is characterised by spicy chillies. Any traditional dish without a generous dose of chillies would not appeal to the Bhutanese palate.
Bhutan boasts of a number of traditional specialists that foreigners might be interested in trying out. Some of them are:
Ema datshi: this dish of chilli (fresh or dried) with fresh cottage cheese has universal appeal in Bhutan. It’s prepared and relished everywhere in Bhutan, from a humble home to a five-star hotel.
Khulay: this buckwheat specialty of Bumthang region comes in the form of pancakes. It’s eaten with ema datshi or other curries. It’s healthy and wholesome.
Puta: this home-made buckwheat noodles mixed with chilli, egg, and other ingredients is another specialty of Bumthang. It’s healthy and easy to prepare.
Hoentoe: this buckwheat dumpling filled with dried turnip leaves is the specialty of Haa district in the west. It is prepared during the yearly festival of Lomba celebrated in Haa and Paro districts.
Apart from the above specialties, one can try out other typically Bhutanese dishes such as goep paa (fried tripe), sikam paa (fried air-dried pork), shakam paa (fried dried beef), jasha maru (minced chicken curry), and nyasha maru (minced fish curry). All of these dishes are eaten with generous amounts of Bhutanese white rice or red rice.
Bhutan People and Culture
Bhutan has a rich culture, the result of self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world until five decades ago. Even today the government strongly emphasizes promotion and preservation of its unique culture which is reflected through its magnificent architecture, dress, traditional ceremonies, everyday life of the Bhutanese people, and traditional beliefs. Bhutan follows Driglam Namzha to preserve its tradition and culture. It is a set of etiquette as what to wear, how to eat, talk, bow down and so on. It was introduced and implemented since the 90’s. Looking at the ancient infrastructure, textiles, farming traditions and way of living and the performing of cultural and spiritual rituals and ceremonies, we can say that Bhutan boasts of a singularly unique identity.
Dzongkha, meaning the language of the fort, is the national language of Bhutan. Dzongkha, widely spoken in the western region became the state language in 1971. Bhutan is a multilingual society. There are 19 different languages and dialects spoken throughout the country
Small though it is, Bhutan has a rich and diverse culture. The country’s difficult topography succeeded in keeping each ethnic group separate and vibrant. The majority of the Bhutanese are divided into three main ethnic groups: the Sharchops, people from the east, the Ngalops, people from the west and the Lhotshampas, people from the south.
Gross National Happiness
Gross National Happiness (GNH), Bhutan’s development philosophy, was propounded by the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck in the early 1970s. His Majesty pronounced that for Bhutan, GNH was more important than gross national product.
GNH is based on the premise that the ultimate aspiration all human beings is happiness and that happiness does not come from material riches alone. Happiness can be achieved when economic pursuit (understood as economic development) is complemented by socio-cultural and spiritual development in an environment free of corrupt practices.
GNH stands on four pillars of balanced and equitable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of culture, conservation of the environment, and good governance. These pillars branch out into nine domains of GNH which include psychological wellbeing, community vitality, living standards, and time use, among others.
All public policies, programmes, and projects are evaluated through GNH policy screening tools that test whether a policy, programme or project is conducive to creating conditions for happiness. GNH policy screening test undertaken by the Gross National Happiness Commission ensures that all public policies conform to the principles of GNH.
GNH has become Bhutan’s most powerful state policy. His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has described GNH thus: “Today GNH has come to mean so many things to so many people, but to me, it signifies simply – development with values.
Thus for my nation today GNH is the bridge between the fundamental values of kindness, equality and humanity and the necessary pursuit of economic growth. GNH acts as our National Conscience guiding us towards making wise decisions for a better future.” The Constitution of Bhutan states that “The State shall strive to promote those circumstances that will enable the successful pursuit of Gross National Happiness.”
National Symbols
National Emblem
The First Schedule to the Constitution states that the National Emblem of Bhutan is a circle that projects a double diamond thunderbolt placed above the lotus. There is a jewel on all sides with two dragons on vertical sides. The thunderbolts represent the harmony between secular and religious power while the lotus symbolises purity. The jewel signifies the sovereign power while the dragons (male and female) stand for the name of the country Drukyul or the Land of the Dragon.
National Flag
The national flag of Bhutan is rectangular in shape and divided diagonally into two equal halves. The upper yellow half runs from the hoist to the upper fly end and symbolises the secular power and authority of King while the lower orange half symbolises religion and the power of Buddhism manifest in the tradition of Drukpa Kagyud. The dragon symbolises the name of the country and its white colour, the purity of the country. The jewels in the dragon’s claws symbolise the wealth of the country and the snarling mouth of the dragon symbolises the protection of the country’s guardian deities.
National Anthem
Here’s the National Anthem of Bhutan. It was first composed in 1953 and it became official in 1966. It is known as Druk Tshenden Kepay Gyalkhab Na (the Kingdom of Bhutan adorned with cypress trees).
“In the Kingdom of Bhutan adorned with cypress trees,
The Protector who reigns over the realm of spiritual and secular traditions,
He is the King of Bhutan, the precious sovereign.
May His being remain unchanging, and the Kingdom prosper,
May the teachings of the Enlightened One flourish,
May the sun of peace and happiness shine over all people.” – Constitution of Bhutan.
National Bird
The raven (Corvus corax) is Bhutan’s national bird for many symbolic reasons. The raven represents Bhutan’s protector deity Gonpo Jarog Dongchen (raven-faced Mahakala). The raven-faced protector deity is believed to have come to help Trongsa Ponlop Jigme Namgyal, the father of the first King of Bhutan, in the form of the raven in a war against British India. Later, Jigme Namgyal’s root lama, Jangchub Tsundru, designed a crown for Jigme Namgyal with the raven’s head. The crown, which was later modified for the successive Kings of Bhutan, came to be known as the Raven Crown. The Raven Crown is still the crown of the King of Bhutan and the most noticeable symbol of Bhutanese monarchy.
National Animal
The national animal of Bhutan is the takin (burdorcas taxicolor), a rare bovine associated with religious history and mythology of Bhutan. The takin is a strange mammal with a thick neck and short, thick legs. It lives in groups and is found above 4,000 metres. The origin of the takin is associated with the magical powers of Lama Drukpa Kunley, the Divine Madman of the 15th century. Once the lama known for his outrageous behaviours went to a social function and ate the whole carcass of a cow and a goat. After he finished his colossal meal, he collected all the bones of the two animals. Then he attached the skull of the goat on the body frame of the cow and snapped his fingers. At this, the skeleton of the two animals stood up like a living animal. The animal walked to the nearby grassland to graze. And this animal is the takin, the animal with the head of the goat and body of the cow.
National Flower
The national flower of Bhutan is blue poppy (Meconopsis horridula). It is a delicate, blue- or purple-tinged flower with white filaments. It is found above the tree line (at around 3,500-4,500 metres) on rocky mountainsides and grows to a height of about one metre. Blue poppy was first discovered in 1933 by a British Botanist called George Sherriff in a remote part of Sakteng in eastern Bhutan.
National Tree
Cypress (cupressus torolusa) is the national tree of Bhutan. Cypress is a very special tree in the Bhutanese historical and cultural contexts. Cypress grows in abundance in the temperate regions across the country and around temples and monasteries. Some cypress trees found near temples and monasteries are said to have grown from the walking sticks of some great religious personalities.
National Sport
Archery is the national sport of Bhutan. The traditional Bhutanese archery was adopted as the national sport in 1971 when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations. Archery has been the most favourite sport of the Bhutanese people for centuries. During medieval times, when wars were frequently fought, bow and arrows were used as weapons. Perhaps that is how the Bhutanese-style archery played across a long range (120 metres) evolved. Archery is today the most widely played sport in Bhutan, thanks to an increasing number of competitions offering handsome prizes.
