Stories from Bhutan

By Dorji Bidha, a Bhutanese culture and trekking guide, and Bhutan Homestay host in Drukgyel, Paro. In the following contribution Dorji shares her grandmother’s personal memories about child birth in her village. Giving Birth in a Bhutanese Village My grandmother, Jum Tso Lham, is said to be the ultimate source of strength of each person in our village. During the 1960s, she helped almost every single pregnant woman giving birth in our village. In those days pregnant women in Bhutan … Read More

By Dorji Bidha, a Bhutanese culture and trekking guide, and Bhutan Homestay host in Drukgyel, Paro. The following is her personal account on name giving traditions in her village. Like names anywhere in the world, Bhutanese names are also given to each person for the purpose of identification. Here in my village we have a bunch of unique names to give, but they differ completely from one generation to the next. Our ancestors had names like Jaku and Jakum (a … Read More

By Karma Choden, culture guide and trekking guide With the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, people lost their jobs, the economy of countries are in decline, the mental health of every single person is affected and the price of commodities are rising. The spreading of the virus hasn’t slowed down, and while people hope for the vaccines the death rate keeps on increasing. Working together under a great leadership In such hard times, in our small country everyone has come … Read More

By Dorji Bidha, cultural and trekking guide; Drukgyel Farmers and homestay host in Paro The autumn season in Bhutan is quite warm during the daytime but pretty chilly during the morning and evening hours. The vegetable and cereal fields look beautiful and plentiful while farmers eagerly wait for the harvest. Paddy harvest starts by mid-October. During that time, we also dry a variety of crops such as chilies, turnip leaves, slippery gourd, pumpkin, radish, apples, peaches and walnuts. Last year … Read More

By Kuenzang T. Choeden, cultural tour guide for Bhutan Homestay and homestay host in Yurbi, Lhuentse Thuenlam – our Bhutanese tradition The importance of relationships has now become a lot clearer for most people. That is why I enjoy guiding and hosting foreign guests – to foster relationships which have always been a great pleasure for me. It inspires and pleases me to understand and to get to know someone from a completely different community and culture. Hosting guests is … Read More

By Dorji Bidha (Drukgyel Farmers), also published on Bhutan Network Until the 1980s people throughout Bhutan practiced a barter system. Following the introduction of our currency, the Ngultrum, in 1974 by the RMA (Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan), shops mushroomed even in remote parts of the country and villagers started shopping as though they were in Walmart. Nevertheless, aside from such business transactions and trade, the Bhutanese still enjoy barter, jetshong as we call it in the National language, Dzongkha. … Read More