Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon
odd: label: Introduction
content: The Bhutan program at the 2008 Festival was the largest and most comprehensive celebration of Bhutanese life and culture ever presented outside of the kingdom. One hundred and fifty Bhutanese participants provided Festival visitors an unparalleled opportunity to see, hear, touch, smell, and experience life in the "Land of the Thunder Dragon."

The program started each Festival morning with an elaborate ceremonial procession to honor important guests. Accompanied by blaring monastic trumpets and framed by the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, and dozens of fluttering colorful prayer flags, the Bhutanese participants proceeded to the Bhutanese temple, where each day they recognized the chief guests. Festival audiences enjoyed Bhutanese music and dance, arts and crafts, spiritual and religious traditions, traditional medicine, food, storytelling, and recreational activities. Every day, live reports were sent to Bhutan to broadcast on Bhutan's national television station.

Bhutan's thirteen traditional arts were presented in a shaded area near the temple, where visitors could mingle with some of the country's finest weavers, painters, sculptors, carvers, cooks, and other artists. Under the trees, visitors also encountered an ancient box of many doors representing the Buddha's understanding of the many paths to enlightenment and a chanter who called people to ponder the box's mysteries. Traditional yak herders from the highlands welcomed guests into their yak-hair tent and entertained them with stories and lively antics. Nearby, some of Bhutan's best cooks shared their stories about food in Bhutan around a traditional clay stove. Practitioners of Bhutanese traditional medicine also shared ancient Buddhist teachings and their knowledge of the many natural compounds found in Bhutan's flora and fauna.

The Four Friends Stage, named after a Bhutanese tale that celebrates social and environmental harmony, was the gathering place for lively discussions about traditions and contemporary issues, including Bhutan's voluntary transition from absolute monarchy to democracy, the meaning of "Gross National Happiness" (an official government policy articulated by Bhutan's Fourth King), and the importance of environmental and cultural resources. The Tsechu Stage was the venue for Bhutanese music and dance traditions. Musicians, singers, and dancers from Bhutan's Royal Academy of Performing Arts demonstrated traditional Bhutanese folk dances, and Bhutanese monastic dancers performed sacred masked dances rarely seen outside of Bhutan.

Bhutanese hospitality was evident in the many activities designed for children and adults. With the help of Bhutanese children, families colored Bhutanese postage stamps and made prayer wheels. Archery, the country's national sport, was played daily. Bhutanese archers dazzled spectators by hitting a target the size of a breadbox nearly a football field away.

His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck was Head of the Bhutan Delegation. Dorjee Tshering, Richard Kennedy, and Preston Scott constituted the Curatorial Team; while Damcho Rinzin and Arlene Reiniger were Program Coordinators. The Bhutan Curatorial/Production Committee included: Dorjee Tshering, Damcho Rinzin, Dorji Wangchuk, Dorji Wangchuk, Dorji Yangki, Lopen Gyeltshen, Jigme Cholen Yezer, Karma Dukpa, Phuntsok Tashi, Phurba Dorji, Sangay Wangchug, Singye Dorji, Singye Wangmo, Sonam Choden, Thinley Gyamtsho, and Thinley Wangchuk.

The program was produced in partnership with the Royal Government of Bhutan. Major Donors to the program were the Bhutan Department of Tourism and the Dancing Star Foundation. Donors included the Bhutan Foundation and an anonymous donor. Contributors to the program were the Frank W. Hoch Trust, the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, Lawrence Small, and the Summit Fund of Washington. Additional support was provided by the Himalayan Youth Foundation, Eva and Yoel Haller, Friends of the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, Exclusive Resorts, Francis and Kathleen McNamara, New Tourism & The Harmony Project, the Sager Family Foundation, Butterfield & Robinson, The University ofTexas at El Paso, and Aman Resorts.
label: Presenters
content: Chime Paden Wangdi, Choeki Wangzom, Deki Wangmo, Gem Dorji, Goen Tshering, Karma Lhendup, Karma Phuntsho, Karma T. Wangchuk, Kinley Dorji, Kunzang Choden, Kuenzang Dorji Thinley, Kuenzang Thinley, Paljor Dorji, Phuntsok Tashi, Sangay Wangchug, Sonam Choki, Sonam Dorji, Thinley Namgyel, Thinley Wangchuk, Tshewang Dendup, Ugen Choden
label: Participants
content: Religious Traditions

Zhung Dratsang (Monastic Body)

Venerable Tsheney Lopen Tandin Tshewang, Thimphu District, ritual chief

Rinzin, Wangdue Phodrang District, chant master

Gyeltshen, Wangdue Phodrang District,  -- choepen --  (shrine person)

Kinzang Tshering, Chukha District,  -- dhung --  (long horn) player 

Namgay Wangchuk, Punakha District, mandala maker

Tazi, Chukha District, torma (ritual cake) maker

Yangka, Paro District, astrologer

Chimi, Wangdue Phodrang District, masked dancer

Kado, Punakha District,  -- jaling --  (wind instrument) player

Kencho, Thimphu District,  -- nga --  (drum),  -- kangdung --  (horn),  -- dhungka --  (conch) player

Kinley Penjor, Wangdue Phodrang District,  -- nga --  (drum),  -- kangdung --  (horn),  -- dhungka --  (conch) player

Kinley Penjor, Punakha District, masked dancer

Pema Dorji, Thimphu District, dancer

Shokey, Punakha District, masked dancer

Penpa, Paro District,  -- dhung --  (long horn) player

Tashi Wangchuk, Thimphu District,  -- jaling --  (wind instrument) player

Tshering Dorji, Thimphu District, chief leader

Tshewang Rigzin, Haa District, masked dancer

Music and Dance Traditions

Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA)

Apa Dodo, Wangdue Phodrang District, masked dancer

Dengo, Trongsa District, dancer

Dorji Dakpa, Samdrup Jongkhar District, dancer

Dorji Norbu, Samdrup Jongkhar District, masked dancer

Kencho Wangdi, Paro District, dancer

Khandu, Paro District, masked dancer

Kinley Penjor, Trongsa District, dancer

Lhaden, Bumthang District, dancer

Nim Dem, Paro District, dancer

Pema Lhamo, Bumthang District, dancer

Pema Tenzin, Mongar District, dancer

Pema Wangdi, Dagana District, musician

Penjor, Paro District, masked dancer

Phub Lham, Punakha District, dancer

Rinchen Wangdi, Mongar District, dancer

Sangay Wangmo, Trashi Yangtse District, dancer

Sherab Dorji, Trashi Yangtse District, masked dancer

Sonam Chogyel, Zhemgang District, masked dancer

Tashi Lhamo, Paro District, dancer

Tashi Phuntsho, Pema Gatshel District, musician

Thinley Pemo, Trashigang District, dancer

Tshering Dorjee, Haa District, masked dancer

Tshering Wangdi, Trashigang District, masked dancer

Ugyen Tshewang, Pema Gatshel District, masked dancer

Wangchuk, Wangdue Phodrang District, dancer

Wangchuk, Trashigang District, masked dancer

Wangchukla, Zhemgang District, musician

Yeshi Wangchuk, Paro District, masked dancer

Zorig Chusum (Thirteen Traditional Arts)

Chimi Pelmo, Thimphu District, incense maker

Dawa Gyeltshen, Mongar District, wood carver

Dawa Penjor, Wangdue Phodrang District, incense maker

Debu Zangmo, Mongar District, bamboo weaver

Deki, Trashi Yangtse District, weaver

Dung Dorji, Bumthang District, calligrapher

Karma Sonam Yuden, Mongar District, wood carver

Kinzang Wangdi, Trashigang District, painter

Kinzang Wangmo, Bumthang District, potter

Kumbu, Wangdue Phodrang District, painter

Namgyel Dema, Trashigang District, weaver

Nim Dorji, Paro District, clay sculptor

Pelden Dorji, Trashi Yangtse District, wood turner

Phajo, Paro District, blacksmith

Ponyala, Mongar District, bamboo weaver

Rada, Wangdue Phodrang District, embroiderer

Rinchen, Punakha District, goldsmith, silversmith

Rinzin Wangmo, Bumthang District, weaver

Sangay Tenzin, Wangdue Phodrang District, painter

Seldon, Lhuntse District, weaver

Singay Karmo, Punakha District, embroiderer

Tashi, Thimphu District, silversmith

Tenzin Thinley, Trashi Yangtse District, wood carver

Thinley, Paro District, painter

Thinley Dorji, Haa District, slate carver

Tshering Dorji, Trashi Yangtse District, wood turner

Architecture

Karma Wangchuk, Trongsa District, building engineer

Karma, Punakha District

Khandu, Punakha District

Lhendup, Punakha District

Namgay Tshering, Punakha District

Nim Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang District

Pem Tshering, Lhuntse District

Phurpa Tshering, Punakha District

Tshewang Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang District

Zeko, Punakha District

Foodways

Phurpa Lhamo, Trashigang District

Tashi Dorji, Mongar District

Tandin, Mongar District

People and Environment

Karma Wangdi, Punakha District

Kencho Zam, Thimphu District, Layap farmer

Singye Wangmo, Punakha District

Sonam Choden, Thimphu District

Tshering, Gasa District, Layap farmer

Traditional Medicine

Dorji Uden, Bumthang District, doctor

Sonam Dorjee, Trongsa District

Sonam Tobgay, Mongar District, doctor
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2008, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials