The traditional costume
It was in the 17th century, under the leadership of the 1st Shabdrung, that the wearing of traditional costume in public, at school, within administrations and during official representations, was introduced. Men wear the gho, a kind of kimono with checks or stripes, which they wear up to the knees and fasten at the waist with a belt. In the past, Bhutanese did not wear anything under their gho, but now they wear boxers or shorts.
The women are wrapped in a long dress, the kira, which is fastened at the shoulders with silver clasps and fastened at the waist with a belt. Often made of cotton or silk, it is usually made of striped fabric; for more formal occasions, women prefer a beautiful woven pattern. When visiting a dzong, Bhutanese are required to wear a kabney, a ceremonial scarf, the colour of which determines a person's rank. Ordinary citizens wear an unbleached white silk kabney, while those in official positions wear a distinctive colour: yellow for the king and religious leaders, blue for members of parliament, red for high-ranking officials appointed by the king, and green for judges.Access to education: a priority
Education in Bhutan has long been the prerogative of monks. It was in the 1960s that the Third King reformed the education system and instituted free primary schooling for all, as well as access to health care. Education is one of the priorities of the Bhutanese government, which wants to further improve the quality of learning in primary schools and expand access to secondary education. The education system provides the rudimentary basis for reading and writing, as well as knowledge of Bhutan's history, geography and traditions. English is widely taught from an early age. Today, more and more young Bhutanese are pursuing higher education, but employment opportunities are limited. Unemployment of these young graduates in the cities is one of the main problems in Bhutan today.
The place of women in Bhutan
Compared to the rest of Asia, Bhutanese women enjoy relatively favourable conditions. Discrimination is not common and the laws are the same for men and women. At birth, the sex of the child matters less than in neighbouring countries, so girls are not subjected to infanticide or abuse. Similarly, in terms of education, their school enrolment rate is one of the highest in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. While in the rural areas, women still predominantly care for children and participate in the work in the fields, in the cities, men and women share household chores and most Bhutanese women work. Nevertheless, as in many countries, men predominate in key positions. In 2004, Her Majesty Queen Mother Sangay Choden Wangchuck established the NGO RENEW (Respect, Educate, Nurture and Empower Women), which advocates for women's rights and tackles various critical issues affecting Bhutanese women, including domestic violence.
With regard to marriage, while living with several wives or husbands had been commonplace in Bhutan for centuries, polygamy and polyandry had tended to decline. Bhutanese marriage, whether loving or arranged, is informal. No wedding dress, no ceremony, but the possibility of divorce. For young Bhutanese today, moving in together is akin to a commitment, just like marriage.Bhutanese leisure activities
In Bhutan, the national sport is archery: datse. It is played in tournaments by all generations and no competition begins without the ceremony of plenty. This sport is practiced on two targets placed face to face, at 140 m from a distance. Nowadays, archery is practiced in the respect of traditions, only the equipment changes. Archers have swapped their heavy wooden bows for ultra-sophisticated equipment. Although the discipline remains mostly a men's affair, women's archery is gradually developing. Another hobby that is an integral part of Bhutanese culture is khuru, a game of darts where teams compete outdoors to hit small targets placed 10 to 20 m away. Tip: Avoid passing too close to a khuru target or archery range. Other sports complete the list of favourite activities of Bhutanese and Bhoutanaises : cricket, football, basketball, golf, taekwondo and tennis.
The art of eating
In Bhutan, chilies are everywhere, in dishes but also served as side dishes. A national speciality, ema datsi (meaning chillies, ema, cheese, datsi) is made up of large green or red chillies served in a cheese sauce. Bhutanese love it! Red rice, buckwheat and cheese ( chugo, cheese made from dried yak milk) are the staple food, along with vegetables such as wild beans, sweet potatoes, bamboo, mushrooms. Meat is eaten fresh or dried (hung from windows on wires), in the form of small portions of yak, pork, beef or chicken. Note that pork fat is considered to be a choice piece. The Bhutanese also enjoy momos,
small steamed ravioli stuffed with meat or cheese, which are dipped in a sauce... with chilli pepper of course!In Bhutan, the meal is a moment of exchange and sharing. The locals like to get together for the three daily meals. Don't be offended if your guide prefers to join his colleagues. Notably because he will prefer to eatema datsi rather than to taste the dishes reserved for the visitors which, to his taste, will lack of seasoning. Bhutanese never mix rice with vegetables and meat. Rice is traditionally eaten with the right hand, gathered into a dumpling and then dipped in the sauce of the dishes. The different dishes are thus eaten in alternating bites. In general, meals end as they are, not on a sweet note. There are no desserts and fruit is eaten more as an appetite suppressant between meals. A traditional meal cannot end without doma, a chew of betel and arec. In Bhutan, to offer a doma
to someone is a sign of friendship. On the drinking side, tea is a widespread beverage, whether it is seuja, i.e. barraté with salt and butter, particularly nourishing and enjoyable in winter, or nadja, with milk and sugar. Favourite spirits arearra, rice wine and sinchhang, made from millet, wheat or rice. Bhutan also produces its own beers: Red Panda, an unfiltered beer, and 1100. Finally, you should know that in Bhutan, every Tuesday is declared Dry Day: day without drink. Bars and cafes usually close and, if restaurants remain open, they cannot serve alcohol.
