Bhutan is the only country in the world to retain the Tantric form of Mahayana Buddhism as its official religion. The Buddhist faith has played and continues to play a fundamental role in the cultural, ethical and sociological development of Bhutan and its people. It permeates all strands of secular life, bringing with it a reverence for the land and its well being. They bring together the population and are dedicated to the Guru Rinpoche or other deities. Throughout Bhutan, stupas and chortens line the roadside commemorating places where Guru Rinpoche or another high Lama may have stopped to meditate.
Prayer flags dot the hills, fluttering in the wind.
They allow Bhutanese people to maintain constant communication with the heavens. While urban settlements have sprung up with the process of modernization, the majority of Bhutanese people still live in small rural villages. Meat dishes, mainly pork, beef and yak, are lavishly spiced with chilies, and it is common to see bright red peppers drying on rooftops in the sun. Salted butter tea, or suja, is served on all social occasions. Chang, a local beer, and ara, a spirit distilled from rice, maize, wheat or barley, are also common and widely favored.