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Bhutan, known as the land of Buddhism, holds sacred the preservation of all life. Here, the taking of any creature's life is vehemently frowned upon. Bhutanese refrain from slaughter, although it doesn't imply a vegetarian diet. Imported meats from India are still consumed by the populace.
The sanctity of life extends to hotel accommodations, where you won't find a single can of bug spray. Karen Lim recounts a night spent with a wandering cockroach in her hotel room, resigned to cohabiting without recourse to its demise.
Women in Bhutan are permitted multiple husbands
Polyandry isn't solely the domain of Bhutanese men; women too can have more than one husband. The practice of polygamy, allowing both men and women to marry multiple spouses, is legally recognized in Bhutan.
This unique provision in the happiest country on earth renders Bhutanese law distinctive, progressive, and even less conservative than some developed nations with monogamous norms.
However, few Bhutanese women opt for multiple husbands. Such customs persist mainly in remote, nomadic communities. Presently, modern Bhutanese marry for love, with divorce accepted without stigma.
In Bhutan, people do not have surnames, only given names
Typically, a person's name consists of a surname and a given name. Each individual is identified with their family, lineage, partly due to their surname. However, this is not the case in Bhutan. Each citizen has two given names side by side instead of a surname and a given name.
Some parents refrain from naming their children and wait for an auspicious day to take them to a temple to receive a blessing and a name from a monk.
In other words, Bhutan is a country without surnames. Every child in a family has different given names, and outsiders cannot determine if they are biologically related or not. For instance, the father of Bhutan's Queen Jetsun Pema is named Dhondup Gyaltshen, her mother is Sonam Chuki, while her two brothers are called Thinlay Norbu, Jigme Namgyal, and her two sisters are Serchen Doma and Yeatso Lhamo.
Tree felling and fishing are prohibited
Apart from the prohibition on killing, Bhutan's constitution also mandates that the country must maintain at least 60% forest cover. This means that cutting down trees is prohibited unless specifically permitted. Violators face heavy fines, and in severe cases, imprisonment. Citizens are encouraged to plant trees for firewood and timber for construction purposes.
Fishing and hunting, although prohibited and penalized for individuals violating the law, do not entirely cease clandestine fishing activities in this region.
The 'dry' Wednesday
The term 'dry' here does not refer to weather conditions, but rather to the regulation of 'no alcohol consumption'.
Contrary to popular belief, Bhutanese people enjoy drinking. The average alcohol consumption per capita here is 8.4 liters. Moreover, there are over 5,400 bars across Bhutan and several large clubs in the capital, Thimphu. This small nation produces everything from beer to red wine, various dessert wines, and spirits.
The government curbs alcohol consumption by implementing a 'dry Wednesday', prohibiting the sale and consumption of alcohol on that day. However, many individuals circumvent this law by concealing alcohol in teapots.
Cheese is a favored delicacy
Not only Europeans love cheese, but also Bhutanese people have a fondness for and produce this type of food, especially spicy cheese.
The most famous dish in Bhutan is ema datshi, where “ema” stands for chili and “datshi” for cheese. Ema datshi is a combination of chili peppers, homemade cheese, and noodles. Many other dishes also incorporate cheese or chili like Phaksha Paa, and the drink Momo.
Bhutanese people still embrace traditional attire
While fashion trends evolve daily, each of us has numerous clothing options suitable for different occasions. Wearing traditional attire of ethnic groups only on special occasions is common, but for Bhutanese, it's a daily affair.
Traditional attire for Bhutanese men is called “Gho” and for women, it's “Kira”. They are worn everywhere, in workplaces, monasteries, temples, government offices, and during formal events. The practice of wearing traditional clothing is also mandated by the government.
On scorching days or when trekking, tourists might witness guides shedding their outer layers and wrapping them around their waists.
Strolling along the bustling streets, one can catch glimpses of Bhutanese girls clad in modern fashion yet swiftly embodying the graceful Kira thereafter. This juxtaposition epitomizes Bhutan's blend of tradition and modernity.
As per San San/Zing News
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Reference: Travel handbook from Mytour
MytourSeptember 13, 2017
