Newsletter

Episode 7 – Hard archery, karaoke and a drink too many!

A new episode of Happiness and Dragon to explore the hobbies of Bhutanese.

Attention. This podcast is part of a series that we encourage you to discover in order. Access previous episodes: Episode 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Episode 4 | Episode 5 | Episode 6.

The essential archery

In the west of the country, it is a must. And if women have a special place in Bhutan, don’t count on finding them here. They are rare there, except as supporters. Here we are on an archery field at the exit of Punakha. Men meet there to train, for competitions and especially to have a good time with friends. Two teams face off against smaller targets than the international standard. Above all, the archers are placed at almost 150 meters, twice the Olympic distance. In cities, archers have often abandoned traditional bamboo bows for modern alloy versions, but the rest of the folklore is still there.

There are archers ridiculing their opponents for missing their target. Here, a sung dance to try to distract the opponent. No referee for this national sport, but curiously a good dose… of alcohol! The glasses are never far away, the moment being above all friendly. And to those who might think that alcohol and guns don’t mix, accidents are pretty rare…

Karaokes and alcoholic evenings

Alcohol is part of the culture of the country, it is found on the archery grounds but not only. In this karaoke, alcohol is also a fuel for the apprentice singers who follow one another to the sound of Dzongkha hits. In the city of Thimphu alone, there are nearly 80 karaoke places. But singing is not essential to raise your glass. No less than 700 drinking establishments coexist in the city, one of the highest per capita rates in the world.

When alcohol becomes a problem

And the further east you drive, the more alcohol is a problem. A law now restricts consumption by children. But despite dissuasive taxation on alcoholic beverages since 2020, consumption among their elders does not seem to be declining. Alcoholism is a growing problem that the country is struggling to regulate. A Bhutanese explained to us: “Alcohol has always been an important part of Bhutanese culture, especially when we receive guests. We all have a bottle of local wine at home. Especially in the east of the country. From an early age, children get into the habit of drinking. Some develop an addiction. The government is trying to solve this problem, but alcohol is really rooted in our culture”.

The cost to the health system is major, in particular to treat liver pathologies, multiplied by 3 in 10 years. The authorities also note an increase in crime, road accidents and domestic violence linked to drink. In the East, a survey showed that 58% of the inhabitants had a problem of excessive alcohol consumption. And on Tuesday, the day the sale of alcohol is banned in the country, most bars and karaoke are closed. Without alcohol, the Bhutanese stay at home.

CREDITS. Images of illustrations, interviews, recordings in Bhutan © Altitude. | Additional sound effects and stock music © Pixabay. | © Flat Icon / Freepik | Translations and dubbing provided by Clémence Bout and Albin Digue from the Master Writer Translator of the University of Western Brittany. | Writing and voice-over: Arnaud Palancade. | Additional sources: Interview with: Wangyel Tandin, 2022 and Robert Dompnier, 2022. | Radio excerpt Hingtam Banzoe, Boom Boom Boom | Bhutan Archery CultureWTAO | Bhutan’s Alcohol-Fueled Archery: It’s Nothing Like The OlympicsNPR, 2018 | Everything you need to know about alcohol in BhutanDailyBhutan | Alcohol & BhutanKuensel, 2022 | The myth behind alcohol happiness, Dr Chencho Dorji. | Son tshechus (extract), Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0

Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending