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Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, situated on the ancient Silk Road between Tibet, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the Bhutanese state developed a distinct national identity based on Buddhism.
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Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked country in Asia. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, Bhutan is geopolitically in South Asia. Thimphu is its capital and largest city
Trongsa Dzong is the largest dzong fortress at a striking location in Bhutan
Trongsa Dzong is located in Trongsa (formerly Tongsa) district, in the centre of the country
This dzong, which controlled movements between western and central Bhutan (the ancient trade route passed right through the middle of the dzong), was built in 1644 ©Henry David Shapiro
Trongsa dzong is the ancestral home of the present royal family
Trongsa Dzong is also a major monastic complex, with around 200 monks. It contains a notable printing house, responsible for the printing of many religious texts in Bhutan
Wallpainting at Trongsa dzong The dharma wheel, or dharmachakra in Sanskrit, is one of the oldest symbols of Buddhism. The deer depicted by the dharma wheel remind us that the Buddha taught to save all beings, not just humans. Typically, when the dharma wheel is represented with deer, the wheel must be twice the height of the deer
The Bhutanese people have long been knowledgeable bridge-builders, creating long suspension spans that easily traverse Bhutan's wide rivers and deep gorges
The Tibetan horn (Dungchen "dharma trumpet") is a long trumpet or horn used in Tibetan, Buddhist and Mon-golian buddhist ceremonies. It is the most widely used instrument in Tibetan Buddhist culture. It is often played in pairs or multiples, and the sound is compared to the singing of elephants
Dobji Zhong is considered to be the first model Dzong in Bhutan
Dzong architecture is a distinctive type of fortress architecture found mainly in Bhutan and the former Tibet Dobji Zhong
The architecture is massive in style with towering exterior walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks' accommodation Dobji Zhong
Master carpenters are found all over the kingdom and for every important structure to be raised they are called upon to contribute. A master carpenter who is still revered today is the Zow Balep, whose architectural skills can still be witnessed today in the ancient fortress of Punakha Dzong
People interested in becoming carpenters serve as apprentice under a master carpenter for a few years till they develop the confidence to practice the skills on their own
Kurjey Lhakang, also known as the Kurjey Monastery, is located in the Bumthang valley
The Kurjey Lhakhang Monastery is known because Guru Rinpoche left his body print in one the caves of the lhakhang (God-house/temple)
Padmasambhava (lit. "Lotus-Born"), also known as Guru Rinpoche, was an 8th-century Indian Buddhist master. He is widely venerated as a 'second Buddha' across Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Himalayan states of India
Semtokha Dzong, south end of Thimphu City Sobrang is a Buddhist monastery in Ura Gewog
Lhakhang Karpo (the White Temple) in Üsu (Uesu) Gewog, Haa, Bhutan
The mask dance of the Drametse community is a sacred dance performed during the Drametse festival in honour of Padmasambhava, the Buddhist guru.
The mask dance of the Drametse, inscribed in 2008 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Since Bhutanese tradition is deeply rooted in the teachings of the Buddha, use of drums and drum sticks are a part of the rituals performed everywhere. Used in all religious ceremonies and rituals, the Bhutanese traditional drum known as nga, and the ngayog (drumstick) are indispensable articles found in every temple, monastery and home. An ancient instrument of musical offering, the beatings of the nga symbolizes the subjugation of evil, indicates the fluctuation of tunes and wordings, and regulates the pace of other instruments during rituals and propitiation ceremonies.
There is a Bhutanese saying, “do not beat the drum empty-handed (i.e. do not beat the drum for fun); and do not propitiate gods empty-mouthed” (i.e. do not propitiate gods without making any recitations). Therefore, drumming in Bhutanese cultural and religious context is sacrosanct.
Choe nga are those drums that are used in rituals and cham nga are the small drums that are used by mask dancers. Also used in religious rituals, drums like choedrum (large pellet drum) and trangti do not have handles and are smaller. Sometime they use hand drums made of skull called thoed drum
Pangri Zampa Lakhang Today, this temple is used as an Astrologers Center of the state clergy This temple and monastery, is home to around 100 monks engaged in monastic training for astrologers
Pangri Zampa Lakhang the Annual Pangri Zampa Astrology Festival
Pangri Zampa Lakhang the Annual Pangri Zampa Astrology Festival
Pangri Zampa Lakhang the Annual Pangri Zampa Astrology Festival
The Jakar Dzong or the “Castle of the White Bird” dominates the Chamkhar valley
The current structure, in a picturesque location overlooking the Chokhor valley, was built in 1667. Its official name is Yuelay Namgyal Dzong, in honour of the victory over the troops of Tibetan ruler Phuntsho Namgyal
An unusual feature here is that the utse (central tower) is situated on an outside wall, so there is no way to circumambulate it
According to legend, when the lamas assembled in about 1549 to select a site for a monastery, a big white bird rose suddenly in the air and settled on a spur of a hill. This was interpreted as an important omen, and the hill was chosen as the site for a monastery
The Jakar Dzong Performing a ritual
