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People In Bhutan |
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The country's population of 600, 000 is composed
of three main ethnic groups. The Sharchopas, who
are considered to be the earliest inhabitants of
Bhutan, live mostly in Eastern Bhutan and they
are of Indo-Mongoloid origin. The Ngalops
populate mostly Western Bhutan migrated from the
Tibetan plains and are the importers of Buddhism
to Bhutan. The Lhotsampas who re of Nepalese
origin settled in a the southern foothills of
the country in the early twentieth century. This
ethnic diversity of the people has resulted in
numerous dialects and languages that are spoken
throughout the country. Dzongkha is the National
language. English is the medium of instruction
in schools and is widely spoken. |
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Religion Of Bhutan
Buddhism was introduced in Bhutan in the 7th
century by Guru Padma Sambhava. in the centuries
that followed, Bhutan was home to many sages and
saints including the great saints-scholars like
Longchen Ramjam, also known as Kuenkhen Longchen
Raamjam, (1308 - 1363). Various schools of
Buddhism in Bhutan assimilated other earlier
practices and beliefs. The aspirations towards
enlightenment and the belief in the widely
shared among Buddhists and majority of the
innate goodness of human beings are Bhutanese
are Buddhists. Hinduism is another religion,
practised particularly in Southern Bhutan. The
Hindu religion as practised by Southern
Bhutanese has many common saints and divinities
with Vajrayana, the school of Buddhism prevalent
in Bhutan. Buddhism has a significant influence
on the values of the Bhutanese and has shaped
the institutions, organizations, arts, drama,
architecture, literature and social structure.
Bhutan's culture, as in other societies, is
continually adapting itself in the face of
development.
The importance of religious institutions
continues in present day Bhutan, as signified by
the strength of the monk body who number about
5000 in Dratshangs or Rabdeys supported by the
state. This figure takes into account only those
monks who are part of the formal monastic
structure supported by the state and excludes
those who are not part of the state sponsored
Dratshangs. The Rabdeys are based mainly in
dzongs. Each Rabdey is healed by a Lam Neten who
is appointed by His Holiness the Je Kherpo (Heal
Abbot), the elected Head of the Central Monk
Body. The present je Kherpo is the 70th
incumbent. His Holiness the Je Kherpo is the
chairman of the nine member Dratshang Lhentshog.
Monks continue to play an important role in the
daily lives of the people in performing
religious ceremonies, and in promoting and
preserving traditional scholarship. They are
also actively involved in the process of
development while constantly renewing their
relevance to society in times of change. |
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