Knowing Different Cultures-
BHUTAN:
Like some
countries, the birth
of a child in Bhutan
is always welcomed
without gender
discrimination. This
may not be
common in other
countries but in
Bhutan, the
outsiders normally
don’t visit the baby
for three days as the
house is considered
to be polluted
  
  Bhutan, a nation that highly treasures her cultures so
much that even the western world has had a slight
influence on it. Originally, the country was known
as Boo-tan but later on it was changed to Bhutan. “The king,
country and its people”, (Tsa-waa-sum) is the motto of
Bhutan and the Bhutanese people take so much pride in
calling their country as ‘the land of medicine herbs’(Lhojong-
mhen-jong). Yellow and orange are the flag national
colors with a dragon in the middle. This unique culture of		 Bhutan is believed to be a means of protecting the
sovereignty of the nation. With the help of a close friend, I
had a chance to explore the Bhutanese cultures and the first
one on the list was birth.
Like some countries, the birth of a child in Bhutan is
always welcomed without gender discrimination. This may
not be common in other countries but in Bhutan, the
outsiders normally don’t visit the baby for three days as the
house is considered to be polluted by kaydip (defilement by
 
 
  birth). A purification ritual called
Lhabsang is carried out to cleanse the
house. As people bring gifts for the
baby in most countries, the Bhutanese
people in villages bring gifts like rice
and dairy products for the baby
whereas people in the urban places
offer gifts like clothes and money for
the baby. In most cases, the ritual of
naming the child is done by religious
people, the Bhutanese people also
invite religious people to name the
child. However, the child Is not named
immediately. The child’s horoscope
known as kay(tsi) is written basing on
the Bhutanese calendar.
Marriage in some countries is
surrounded with so many
complications. However,
complications like arranged marriages

parents, relatives and friends present scarves (kha-dar) to the couple along with gifts in form of money and goods. Normally, the wife goes to the husband’s house but in the western part of Bhutan, the husband goes out to the wife’s house after marriage while in the eastern part of Bhutan, it is the reverse. The practice however is not mandatory. If the marriage does not go well, divorce is accepted in the Bhutanese society and compensation is paid by the party seeking separation.

In Bhutan, death is believed to be the most expensive affair as it does not mean the end. On the contrary, it is merely passing on to another life.  Some rituals in Bhutan are performed to help the departed souls have a
Marriage in some
countries is
surrounded with so
many complications.
However,
complications like
arranged marriages
are not popular any
more in Bhutan. People
normally married
among relatives like
the eastern Bhutanese.
Forexample, crosscousin
marriage was a
popular tradition. Such
marriages however
were not common in
the literate masses.
are not popular any more in Bhutan. People normally married among relatives like the eastern Bhutanese. Forexample, cross-cousin marriage was a popular tradition. Such marriages however were not common in the literate masses. As a custom every where, religious people are called to preside over marriage ceremonies. During these ceremonies,

better re-birth. The rituals are performed after the 7th day, the 14th day, 21th day and 49th days of death.

The Bhutanese dress is considered to be unique in the world. The men wear gho, a long robe that is raised till the knees, folded backwards an then tied around the waist by kera(belt). Traditionally, the pourch that is formed around the waist is used for

carrying the bowl, money, and doma. The Bhutanese men wear a scarf called rachu when going out on a visit to Dzong or an office. The wearing of the kabney is an important part of Bhutanese decorum and should be put on in a right manner. The kabney identifies the rank of a person for instance, the king wears yellow scarf, ministers put on orange, judges put on green, district ministers put on red with a white band going lengthwise while the common people wear white fringes.


Women on the other hand wear a rectangular shaped cloth piece called kira tied by a belt. They also wear a scarf called rachu and they hang it over their shoulders and it is beautifully hand woven with fringes at the end.
When it comes to the eating habits, the Bhutanese people eat with hands because they believe eating with spoons is an imported culture. While eating, the family members sit on the floor in a circle and the mother serves the food. Before eating, they toss some morsels of rice in the air as an offering to the deities and spirits. Favorite Bhutanese dishes include ema datsi (chili with cheese) and paa (sliced pork and beef). Note: no dish does without chilli. The Bhutanese people also drink salted butter tea suja) and alcohol.


Festivals performed throughout the year are so many. The tshechu festival performed in the Dzongs, monasteries and temples is one of the most colorful festivals in Bhutan. Tshechu is a mask dance festival performed to commemorate the events in the life of Huru Rinpocha who is considered as the second Buddha in Bhutan. These festivals are meant for social re-unions where people wear their finest clothes and jewelries.  With all that, I hope you now know something about Bhutan. Join me in the next issue as I unveil cultures of other countries

 


Katumba Joseph
BCA