Food and Culture: Changes, Continuities, and Changing Continuities in Bhutan

1. Food and Culture: Changes, Continuities, and Changing Continuities in Bhutan Deki Yangzom BA Anthropology Royal Thimphu College

2. Traditional Way of Eating Food in Bhutanese Family

3. 1. The motif of seating arrangements • driglam namzha • Those who eat jointly are traditionally expected to sit in a circle and cross-legged on the floor • Silence is to be maintained while eating • The head of the family is served first and no one can stand up and leave until all the members of the family finishes their food • Traditional seating and serving arrangements reveal and reproduce clear kinship and gender hierarchies that are reflective of wider societal arrangements

4. Changes and Changing Continuities • The seating position and style has changed • Especially in urban areas the so-called western-style dining table has become widespread • The form and functioning of many modern institutions are not conducive to the strict adherence of zhacha dorsum • Individualized eating pattern are on the rise and relatively ‘self-serving’ • Silence is no longer maintained • However, traditions tend to be more closely adhered when guests are attended to.

5. Food Offering Prayers

6. 2.The offering of “Tomchoe” • Meaning and practice of Tomchoe • Offering to the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha • The spiritual pervades traditional Bhutanese eating etiquette and is long socially normative • Eating meals at the crossroads of the ‘Profane’ and the ‘Sacred’

7. Changing Continuities • Tomchoe and Phue continues to be practiced but less among youngsters and in urbanized, modern settings • It has ceased to be ritually and socially expected only during special occasions • Example: Rimdro at Royal Thimphu College .

8. 3.Eating Utensils • Traditionally food were cooked in earthen wares and eaten by hands • Toray • Dapa and Bangchung • Eating Utensils as a reflection of Bhutanese skills in arts and crafts

9. Contemporary change • Traditional utensils is replaced by modern tools such as plates, spoon, fork, chopstick, knifes, etc • Most of us use western cutlery • Dishes are cooked using LPG gas, rice cooker and other electronic machines

10. 1.Bangchung 2.Dapa

11. 4.Earthenware “Thab” 3.Earthen pot

12. Changing Continuities • Traditional utensils continue to be present in most households, but primarily serve as decorative purposes • Chinese-style bowls and western-style cutlery have become commonplace • In modern institutions, including Royal Thimphu College, meals are served in large steel plates

13. 4. The meaning of alcohol in Bhutanese culture • The Meaning and Practice of Ara • “Ara” is the local term for the alcohol in Bhutan • Consumption of ara traditionally facilitated and symbolized the creation and nourishing of social relations • Types of Alcohol- Sinchang, Bangchang, Tongpa, Ara • Serkem • Marchang • “Bhutanese archery is probably the only sport in the world today where drinking is allowed during the game” Choden(2008)

14. Example: Ara and Traditional Courtship • JomoNgengi: AmaJomo’s Marriage Custom of Merak and Sakteng (L. Dorji 2003) • Steps of traditional courtship and marriage: • Childhood Betrothal (Chung-ngen) • The drinks of ask-acceptance(Trungchang) • The middle drinks(Barchang) • Bride Send-off(Bagmatonglen) • Giving of the Brides Inheritance and Gifts(BumgiYongdang and Phag)

15. 1.Local “Ara” 2.Imported Liquor

16. Contemporary changes • Alcohol symbolized wealth in the past as its brewing presupposed the availability of surplus in grains • The expensive and labour-intensive process of its production may explain its elevated status as an offering • While Ara is still preferred by many, today there is widespread availability of ‘cheap’ and imported liquor • Dual Development: alcoholism is increasingly a social problem yet at a societal level it appears that many Bhutanese drink on fewer occasions compared to the past

17. Tashi Delek!