Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan ({{IPA2|bu?'t??n}} {{Audio|Bhutan.ogg|Listen}}) is a landlocked nation in the Himalaya Mountains, sandwiched between India and the People's Republic of China in South Asia. The local name for the country is Druk Yul. It is also called Druk Tsendhen (land of the thunder dragon), because the thunder there is said to be the sound of roaring dragons. Historically Bhutan was known by many names, such as Lho Mon (southern land of darkness), Lho Tsendenjong (southern land of the cypress), and Lhomen Khazhi (southern land of four approaches). The origins of the name Bhutan are unclear; historians have suggested that it may have originated in variations of the Sanskrit words Bhota-ant (the end of Bhot – another word for Tibet), or Bhu-uttan (highlands). The word Bhutan as a name for the country dates from the late 19th century.

Culture

Bhutan remains one of the most secluded nations in the world, and foreigners are not permitted to travel to many of its areas to minimise the effects of tourism on the local culture.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The traditional dress for men is the gho, a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as the kera. Women wear an ankle-length dress, the kira, which is clipped at one shoulder and tied at the waist. An accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved blouse, which is worn underneath the outer layer. Social status and class is determined by the texture, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments. Scarves and shawls are also indicators of social standings. Earrings are worn by both males and females.

Related Topics:
Gho - Kera - Kira

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Rice and, increasingly, corn are the staple foods of the country. The diet in the hills is rich in protein because of the consumption of meat?chiefly poultry, yak and mutton. Soups of meat, rice, and corn spiced with chillies is a favorite meal during the cold seasons. Soups, rice or corn, and curries spiced with chillies are major components of the Bhutanese diet. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular, despite the scarcity of milk. Popular beverages include butter tea and beer. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have banned the smoking of nicotine.

Related Topics:
Rice - Butter tea - Beer

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bhutan's national sport is archery, and competitions are held regularly in most villages. Another traditional sport is the digor, a type of shot put. Soccer is an increasingly popular sport. Rigsagar is the dominant style of popular music, played on a stringed instrument, and dates back to the late 1960s; it shows the influence of Indian popular music, a hybrid form of traditional and Western popular influences. Traditional genres include the zhungdra and boedra. Characteristic of the region is a type of fortress known as dzong architecture.

Related Topics:
Archery - Digor - Shot put - Soccer - Rigsagar - 1960s - Zhungdra - Boedra - Dzong architecture

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bhutan has numerous public holidays, most of which centre around traditional seasonal, secular and religious festivals. They include winter solstice (around January 1, depending on the lunar calendar), lunar New Year (January or February), the king's birthday and the anniversary of his coronation, the official start of monsoon season (September 22), National Day (December 17), and various Buddhist and Hindu celebrations. Even the secular holidays have religious overtones, including religious dances and prayers for blessing the day.

Related Topics:
Winter solstice - January 1 - September 22 - December 17

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Masked dances and dance dramas are common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. Energetic dancers, wearing colourful wooden or composition face masks and stylised costumes, depict heroes, demons, death heads, animals, gods, and caricatures of common people. The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve ancient folk and religious customs and perpetuate the ancient art of mask making.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Kuensel is Bhutan's only newspaper, circulated biweekly in Dzongkha, English and Nepali. Bhutan has about 15,000 internet users, 25,200 landline users, and 23,000 cell phone subscribers. The Bhutan Broadcasting Service was established in 1973 as a radio service, broadcasting in short wave nationally, and on the FM band in Thimpu. The Service started television broadcasts in 1999, and was the last country in the world to introduce television. As part of its modernisation programme, the ban on television was lifted and cable television was introduced. However by 2002, it was noticed that the crime rate in Bhutan had increased appreciably, and the introduction of cable television is alleged to be responsible for the spurt in crime.{{ref|guard}}

Related Topics:
Kuensel - Cell phone - Bhutan Broadcasting Service - 1973 - Short wave - FM - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~