Bhutan has a distinct culture shaped by an ancient Buddhist heritage, centuries of isolation enabled by extreme geography, rugged mountain terrain and a small population with deeply held spiritual beliefs.
Bhutan’s culture can be seen in the architecture, dress, textiles, religious festivals, sports like archery and khuru, and in the everyday life of the people.
Deeply rooted in Himalayan Buddhist traditions, Bhutanese customs and beliefs are built on the law of karma and emphasises compassion, forgiveness, respect for the natural environment and all forms of life.
The deep spiritual beliefs of the people can be seen in the hundreds of prayer flags, stupas and monasteries on hilltops and promontories and along pathways and junctions.
Like many Asian cultures some of the prominent cultural traits are close knit and joint families and respect and obedience to elders. Bhutanese value systems also espouse Driglam Namzha, which is a code of traditional etiquette in everyday life.
Bhutanese wear the national dress, gho for men and kira for women, when attending school, office, religious festivals and visiting temples and monasteries. The gho is a knee length robe held together at the waist by a traditional woven belt. The kira is an ankle length dress that is also held together at the waist by a belt and clasped over the shoulders with decorative pins. A light jacket is worn on the outside known as a Tego.
The semi nomadic communities high up in he mountains wear a different costume made of yak hair and hide.
Long scarves are used when visiting dzongs and administrative centres. These scarves vary in colour and denote rank. Members of parliament wear dark blue scarves.
Still very much an agrarian society Bhutanese grow rice, wheat, corn, potato, chilies, a variety of greens and rear livestock. The major religious festivals, still the biggest attraction for Bhutanese, follow the agriculture season either coming before work gets intense in the fields or towards and after harvest season.
Bhutan is a rice-eating nation although corn, wheat and barley are also consumed in various forms with beef, pork, yak and fish both as fresh and dried meat.
It is a national policy to preserve and promote the best of Bhutanese culture, which is considered the very foundation of Bhutanese identity and a means of protecting Bhutan’s sovereignty in the absence of economic might and military power.
