Religion

Religion and spirituality play a very important role in the culture of Bhutan. Everything from architecture to the arts are influenced by their religion. Buddhism is the main religion practiced in Bhutan, but there are several sub-cultures in Southern Bhutan that practice Hinduism as well.

In the 8th Century, guru Rinpoche brought Buddhism to Bhutan and since that time Bhutan has been home to many saints and lamas. The official religion of Bhutan is the Drupka sct of Kagyudpa which is a tantric Mahayana Buddhism and is known as one of the most spiritual sects. Monks and nuns play a large part in the daily lives of the Bhutanese people and religious festivals, religious artwork and monasteries, are common throughout the country.

Even Bhutanese homes all have altar's in them, which shows their dedication to the daily practice of their religion.

Bhutanese Dress

Traditional Bhutanese dress consists of a gho for men and kira for women. The gho is a long robe, that is tied up with a belt so that the bottom is actually knee length. There is a pouch above the waist for men to carry their money in and a knife is generally carried in the belt. The kira is a rectangular piece of cloth that is draped across the body and tied by a silver clasp. The kira is long, going all the way to the ankles and is worn over a shirt, with a jacket.

Both men and women also wear scarves, which are an important part of the tradition of the Bhutanese people. Men wear a kabney, which is worn on all formal visits to a Dzong or to an office. The color of the kabney identifies the rank of the individual. The King wears yellow, ministers wear orange, Judges wear green and common people wear white. Women wear a rachu. This is hung over the shoulder and is hand-woven with fringe on the end. Both the kabney and the rachu are beautiful scarves that are indicative of the talent and skill of Bhutanese weavers.

Food and Drink

Traditional Bhutanese food is spicy. It features red and green chilies. The national dish is a chili and cheese called ema datsi. Most restaurants serve both meat and vegetarian dishes, while some cater to vegetarians exclusively. Indian meals are also available in many restaurants.

Liquor is available every day but Tuesday, which is dry day. The drinking age is 18 years old in Bhutan.

Marriage

Arranged marriages were common until 20 years ago. Until that time most people married among their relatives and cousins marrying was a common occurrence. Today, most marriages are chosen by those getting married.

Most weddings in Bhutan are small ceremonies performed by a monk or other religious leader. Friends and family gather and bring gifts to the couple. In Eastern and Southern Bhutan the wife will go and live in the husbands house, in Western Bhutan it is the opposite.

Divorce, while uncommon, is not frowned upon and there is no social stigma associated with divorce. Most divorced people end up remarrying.

For more information about Bhutan, please visit the Tourism Council of Bhutan website.