Bhutan - Lindsay Brown [31]
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The 160 Basic Health Units cover 90% of the population.
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Personal Names
The system of names in Bhutan differs between the north and south of the country. In the north, with the exception of the royal family, there are no family names. Two names are given to children by monks a few weeks after birth. These are traditional names of Tibetan origin and are chosen because of their auspicious influence or religious meaning. Two names are always given, although a few people have three names.
It is often impossible to tell the sex of a Bhutanese person based on their name. A few names are given only to boys, and others apply only to girls, for example Choekyi, Drolma and Wangmo, but most names may apply to either.
In the south, with an evident Hindu influence, a system resembling family names exists. Brahmans and Newars retain their caste name, such as Sharma or Pradhan, and others retain the name of their ethnic group, such as Rai or Gurung.
TITLES & FORMS OF ADDRESS
Titles are extremely important. All persons of rank should be addressed by the appropriate title followed by their first or full name. Members of the royal family are addressed as ‘Dasho’ if they are male, and ‘Ashi’ if female. A minister has the title ‘Lyonpo’ (pronounced ‘lonpo’).
The title Dasho is given to those who have been honoured by the king, receiving also the accompanying red scarf. In common practice, many senior government officials are addressed as Dasho even if they have not received the title, but officially this is incorrect.
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According to the 2005 Census, male literacy is at 69% and female literacy at 51%.
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You would address a senior monk or teacher with the title ‘Lopon’ (pronounced ‘loeboen’) or, if he has been given the title, as Lam. A trulku (reincarnate lama) is addressed as ‘Rinpoche’ and a nun as ‘Anim’.
A man is addressed as ‘Aap’ and a boy as ‘Busu’; a woman is addressed as ‘Am’ and a girl as ‘Bum’. If you are calling someone whose name you do not know, you may use ‘Ama’ for women and ‘Aapa’ for men. In the same situation, girls are ‘Bumo’ and boys ‘Alou’. When Bhutanese talk about a foreigner whose name they don’t know, they use the word ‘Chilip’ or, in eastern Bhutan ‘Pilingpa’.
At night, do not shout a person’s name, as it’s believed this may attract a ghost.
White silk scarves called kata are exchanged as customary greetings among ranking officials and are offered to high lamas as a sign of respect, but they are not exchanged as frequently as they are in Tibet and Nepal.
Traditional Dress
Bhutan’s traditional dress is one of the most distinctive and visible aspects of the country. It is compulsory for all Bhutanese to wear national dress in schools, government offices and formal occasions. Men, women and children wear traditional clothing made from Bhutanese textiles in a variety of colourful patterns.
GHO
The men wear a gho, a long robe similar to the Tibetan chuba. The Bhutanese hoist the gho to knee length and hold it in place with a woven cloth belt called a kera. The kera is wound tightly around the waist, and the large pouch formed above it is traditionally used to carry a bowl, money and the makings of doma. One man suggested that the best part of the day was when he was able to loosen his uncomfortably tight belt.
According to tradition, men should carry a small knife called a dozum at the waist. Traditional footwear is knee-high, embroidered leather boots, but these are now worn only at festivals. Most Bhutanese men wear leather shoes, trainers or trekking boots.
Ghos come in a wide variety of patterns, though often they have plaid or striped designs reminiscent of Scottish tartans. Flowered patterns are taboo, and solid reds and yellows are avoided because