BHUTAN AT A GLANCE

Bhutan, the last Tantric Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom in the world lies along the lofty ridges of the eastern Himalayas, bordered by Tibetan Autonomous of China in north and India to east, south and west. It was the mighty Himalayas that protected Bhutan from the rest of the world and left the Kingdom blissfully untouched. Bhutan’s state religion, the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Mahayana Buddhism provided the essence of a rich culture, tradition, and environmental conservation ethic and charismatic history. The Bhutanese people protected this sacred heritage and unique identity for centuries by choosing to remain isolated from the rest of the world till early 60s. Its remoteness, gifts of nature and the ancient Buddhist monasteries are its main attractions.

Bhutan is a serene land in the heart of the Himalayas where the environment, tradition and Culture are still intact. Bhutan is the only remaining Mahayana Buddhist country is the world.

Bhutan in modern context: Gross National Happiness
The country’s development philosophy is most well enunciated in the statement of His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck that “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product”. For the last two decades or so, Gross National Happiness – underscoring that economic, spiritual and environmental well-being are all equally important and that we need to balance these aspects for overall development – has remained the guiding principle for the Bhutanese in pursuing national development efforts. Around the main tenet of Gross National Happiness, Bhutan has designed its Vision Statement, Bhutan 2020: A Vision for Peace, Prosperity and Happiness. Bhutan has adopted five overall goals: improving quality of life and income, especially of the poor; ensuring good governance; promoting private sector growth and employment generation; preserving and promoting cultural heritage and environment conservation; and achieving rapid economic growth and transformation.

The Bhutanese economy is predominantly agrarian, with 79 per cent of the population living in rural areas and subsisting largely on an integrated system of agriculture, livestock rearing and forest products use – collectively known as renewable natural resources (RNR). So, rural development and RNR management are extremely crucial for the nation’s progress.

Hydropower, today, accounts for the biggest share of the national revenue. Revenue from hydropower, largely through export to India where there is presently a huge market for electricity, is expected to multiply dramatically and hugely boost economic development once the construction of medium and large hydropower projects currently underway is completed.

Tourism in Bhutan has contributed significantly to the national economy. The “exclusivity” factor as a result of the country’s “high value, low volume” tourism policy has contributed to the popularity of tourism in Bhutan. Bhutan has vast potential for eco-tourism and natural environment.

For a small country like Bhutan, preservation of its rich cultural heritage is critical to its very survival as a nation state. In addition to safeguarding a sense of national identity in a rapidly globalizing world, the living cultural heritage is a source of human values and beliefs that are of relevance and critical for sustainable development. Traditional social values and thoughts, including indigenous knowledge, provide a benign and supportive role to social change and development.

Environmental conservation has been consistently in the forefront of the national development agenda. Strong conservation ethics, underpinned by the traditional reverence for nature, have influenced the country’s approach to environment long before global concerns for environment were raised. 72.5 per cent of the country is under forest cover, nearly all of it being natural vegetation. The country has established a comprehensive system of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, nature reserve and biological corridors. Due to its strong effort for environmental conservation, international agencies, such as United Nations, World Wildlife Fund has awarded the King and the People of Bhutan an award.

History
The written history of the Kingdom began in the 8th century with the legendary visit of Guru Padmasambhava to the valley of Bumthang in 747 A.D, who for the first time began the propagation of Tantric strain of Mahayana Buddhism Known as the Secret Vajrayana. In the following centuries, many great masters came to Bhutan and preached the faith resulting in full bloom of Buddhism. Although sectarian at first, the country was eventually unified in the early 17th century by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, of Drukpa Kagyupa order of Mahayana Buddhism. The Shabdrung codified a comprehensive system of laws and built a chain of Dzongs, which guarded each valley from the enemies and invaders. These dzongs now serves as the religious and administrative centre of the region. Towards the end of the 19th century, the Tongsa Penlop, Ugyen Wangchuck, who then controlled the central and eastern region, overcame all his rivals and united the nation. He was unanimously crowned as the first King of Bhutan in 1907 at Punakha.

Starting 2008, Bhutan became constitutional democracy, where the King will be an adviser to government and support to general people.


Bhutan is the last Mahayana Buddhist Kingdom, and the teachings of this school of Buddhism are living faith among its people. The air of spirituality is pervasive even in urban centers where the spinning of prayer wheels, the murmur of mantras and glow of butter lamps are still important features of everyday life. Bhutan’s religious sites and institutions are not museums, but the daily home of its people.

People
With the population of about 600,000, Bhutan has three main ethnic groups; the Sharchopas, who are held to be indigenous inhabitants, the Ngalogpas whose ancestry is traced to neighboring Tibet and the Lhotshampas, the recent immigrants of Nepalese origin. The inhabitants of Bhutan are gracious gentle and very hospitable, they are peace loving and possess lively sense of humor.

About 82% of Bhutan's people are farmers living in the temperate central valleys where villages are decorated in bright colors, terraced rice paddies cover the fertile mountain slopes, and rivers flow through the major towns. The plains and foothills of the tropical southern lowlands are home to many species of exotic wildlife, including the golden langur monkey, elephant, bison, tiger, rhinoceros, and a fascinating array of butterflies. Semi-nomadic people live in the high Himalayas of northern Bhutan, a pristine region of glaciers and lakes.

Religion
The State religion of Bhutan is Drukpa Kagyupa, a branch of Mahayana Buddhism. It has been institutionalized in the Dratshang (Central Monk body), headed by the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who is chosen from among the most learned lamas and enjoys an equal rank with the King. Bhutan is the only country in the world to have adopted Mahayana Buddhism in its Tantric form as its official religion.
Even though the state religion in Bhutan is Buddhism, Hindus, few Muslim and some Christians.

Architecture
One of the most striking physical features of Bhutan is its architecture. The characteristic style and colour of every building and house in the Kingdom is a distinct source of aesthetic pleasure. The Dzongs - themselves, imposing 17th century structures built on a grand scale without the help of any drawing and nail - are outstanding examples of the best in Bhutanese architecture. Patterns of rich colours adorn every monasteries, temples and typical Bhutanese house in traditional splendor.

Arts and Crafts
Like its architecture, its art and crafts are important aspects of Bhutanese culture and they depict the spiritual depth of Bhutanese life. Bhutan’s thirteen Arts and Crafts known as Zhorig Chusum, Painting, Carpentry, Carving, Sculpture, casting, Blacksmith, Bamboo works, Glodsmithing and Silver smithing, weaving Embroidery, Masonry, leather works and Paper works are still strongly preserved. Whether it is on a wall, or one of the renowned Thangkhas or murals, painters use vegetables dyes to give their work the subtle beauty and warmth seen nowhere else in the world.

Bhutan also boasts an unparalleled wealth in its cottage industry. Its fine handicrafts of wood and bamboo, ornaments of gold and silver, highly developed weaving skills represent an advanced art form.

BHUTAN’s National Symbols

National Flag
The National Flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally into equal yellow and orange halves. The division starts from the lower corner of the flag where it is hoisted and runs along the diagonally opposite corner.

The yellow portion lies on the upper part of the diagonal division and it represents the yellow scarf worn by His Majesty, which in turn represents the being of His Majesty, the King. The orange portion lies on the lower part of the flag and it represents the orange scarf worn by the Je Khenpo, the religious head of the country.

The National Flag has a white dragon which spreads equally along the diagonal division towards the upper end. The dragon holds norbu(jewel) by its claws.
Read the article: The Origin and Description of the National Flag and National Anthem of the Kingdom of Bhutan by Dorji Penjore and Sonam Kinga



National Emblem
The national emblem, contained in a circle, is composed of a double diamond thunderbolt placed above a lotus, surmounted by a jewel and framed by two dragons. The double diamond thunderbolt represents the harmony between secular and religious power; which results from the Bhuddist religion on its Vajrayana form. The lotus symbolizes purity; the jewel sovereign power; and the two dragons, male and female, stand for the name of the country-the thunder.

National Game
The national sport of Bhutan is archery. Other traditional sports include digor - a kind of shotput, darts and wrestling. Today, most international sports, such as soccer, basket ball, volleyball, tennis, and table tennis are becoming popular. In Bhutan a game of archery has always been a serious business. Tradition has it that if two villages or districts were to compete in a game of archery, elaborate preparations preceded the actual duel. Astrologers consulted the stars and their books of wisdom to divine the most auspicious day to play the game, including even the most favorable sequence of shooting for their players.

National Dress
Bhutanese men wear gho, which are longish robes tied around the waist by a cloth belt, know as kera. The womens ankle-length dress is known as kira, which is made of bright coloured fine woven fabric with traditional patterns. The women of Bhutan are known for their dark good looks and graceful manner. Their beauty is only enhanced by the intricately woven kiras they wear. Kiras are the national dress for women in Bhutan.