SAARC

INTRODUCTION

SAARC - South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SAARC is an economic and political organization.

SAARC was established on December 8, 1985.

In terms of population - almost 1.5 billion people.

It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States.

SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in the spirit understanding.

In April 2007, at the Association's 14th summit, Afghanistan became its eighth member.

Objectives

To promote the welfare of the people To accelerate economic growth, social progress and

cultural development To promote and strengthen collective self-reliance To contribute to mutual trust, understand and

appreciation of one another's problem; To promote active collaboration and mutual

assistance To strengthen cooperation with other developing

countries; To strengthen cooperation among themselves To cooperate with international and regional

organisations with similar aims and purposes.

BHUTAN

BHUTAN is one of the

countries of SAARC The information regarding

is presented in the

following slides

TRADITIONAL DRESS

During daylight hours “Bhutanese” citizens required to observe the national dress code, known as “Driglam Namzha”

Men wear a heavy knee-length robe tied with a belt, called a gho, folded in such a way to form a pocket in front of the stomach

Women wear colourful blouses over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth called a kira, thereby creating an ankle-length dress. A short silk jacket, or toego may be worn over the kira

MONUMENTS

TRASHI CHHOE DZONG TAKTSANG GOEMBA(The Tiger's Nest) PARO DZONG(also called Rinpung Dzong in

Bhutanese) KICHU LHAKHANG PUNAKHA DZONG

TRASHI CHHOE DZONG The present dzong was

built in the 18th century

by Shabdrung Rinpoche

to house government officials To accommodate the

national government and the

central monastic body, the

dzong was totally refurbished

and enlarged in 1962, a year after

Thimphu was designated the

nation's capital

TAKTSANG GOEMBA(The Tiger's Nest)

Taktsang was established as a

sacred place for meditation by

Guru Rinpoche who visited

the site on his second visit

to Bhutan in 747 CE, though

the first monastery was not

constructed until 1694 Precariously perched on the edge of a 1,200 meter cliff, this

monastery creates an impressive sight, and is the unofficial symbol of Bhutan

PARO DZONG(also called Rinpung Dzong in Bhutanese)

Built in 1646, Paro Dzong

is a large Drukpa Kagyu

Buddhist monastery and

fortress in Paro District

in Bhutan It houses the district Monastic Body and

government administrative offices of Paro Dzongkhag

KICHU LHAKHANG

It is most ancient monastery

in Bhutan built by

King Songten Gampo

in one night sometimes

around 8th century It is located just off the

road running between Paro bazaar and the

Taktsang

PUNAKHA DZONG Constructed by Shabdrung

Ngawang Namgyal(the

founder of Bhutan)

in 1637-38 It is the winter home of

Bhutan's Central

Monastic Body

FESTIVALS

TSHECHU PROGRAMME PUNAKHA DROMCHOE (Punakha) TAMSHINGPHALA CHOEPA (Bumthang) JAMBAY LHAKANG DRUP (Bumthang) TRONGSA TSHECHU (Trongsa)

TSHECHU PROGRAMME

The Tsechu/Festival is a religious festival in honour of Guru Rinpoche or a patron deity of the area. The Bhutanese dressed in their finest, come from all over for the festivities. It is believed that one who witnesses the tshechu is profusely blessed

PUNAKHA DROMCHOE (Punakha)

Punakha Dromchoe is a five day long festival dedicated to the goddess Mahakala. The religious aspects are performed in the same manner as in early times. On the last day, a play of warriors going off to war is enacted

TAMSHINGPHALA CHOEPA (Bumthang)

The festival is celebrated for three days, on the open grounds in front of the Tamshing lhakang. This festival is in honour of the “Terton” (treasure discoverer) Pema Lingpa of the 15th century. The religious dances are generally the same, but performed in a slightly different manner, as of the Nyingmapa sect of Mahayana Buddhism

JAMBAY LHAKANG DRUP (Bumthang)

This festival was introduced to celebrate the completion of the lhakang in the 7th century. The dances are performed by laymen from the villages in the valley. The high light of this festival is the ‘Mewang” – the fire ceremony

TRONGSA TSHECHU (Trongsa)

The festival is celebrated within the courtyards of the Trongsa Dzong. It usually begins on the day after the Meeting of the Nine Evils, of the Bhutanese calendar. Falling in November or December of the international calendar. The festivities carry on for five days. The first day religious dances are “chamju” – dances without masks. On the following days, similar dances as of the Thimphu and Paro Tshechu’s are performed. A thongdrol is unfurled on the last day