BHUTAN ~ The Black Hat Dance ~

... Wonderful view of a typically sacred Buddhist ritual... one of the most popular cham dances without mask seen in Bhutan and other parts of the Buddhist Himalayas... named after the black hats which the dancers wear, the dance has a deep spiritual significance and is performed as an act of religious ritual and practice, and not as a piece of entertainment... this mesmerizing tantric Dance is certainly breathtaking to watch with beautiful costumes and the dancers performing spectacular spins and leaps that become more daring as the day progresses and more Ara is consumed (Local rice liquor) by the dancers... with more than 163 festivals throughout the year, Bhutan is famous for its culturally thrilling festivals.. Thanks a lot Rod!!(✿◠‿◠) It also has an interesting backside: it was initially missent to Thailand and at the Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary, guests are gifted with a unique official Bhutanese personalized stamp with your own picture... my first time to see the sender on the stamp!😊

The Black Hat Dance, or Zhana Cham celebrates the assassination of a Tibetan King in 842AD by a black robed Monk. 

The large, wide-brimmed black hat signifies realized spiritual awareness and the subjugation of evil forces.

The dancers of the Zhanak dance are dressed in long silk robe called phoego, which is tied around the hip from within using a special prop so that the robe whirls smoothly and elegantly when the dancers perform whirling movements. The robes are made of different colours of silk brocade and have striped patterns on the main body as well as the sleeves, which have a very broad end.

For the Zhanak dance, when people can afford, the dancers normally wear the traditional boots made in Bhutan.
 

Stamp:

Personalized stamp

BHUTAN ~ Dochula Pass ~

... Lovely view of a scenic mountain pass located in the eastern Himalayas... it is a popular tourist destination due to its breathtaking views of the huge Himalayan mountain range and surrounding valleys... you can see the Bhutanese Himalaya from a vantage point of 3100 meters.... this place is also known for its War Memorial made to honor the soldiers who perished in the Bhutanese War... these 108 Stupas are really impressive, and their setting is magical... it is a symbol of the country's commitment to peace and stability... Thanks a lot Som!【ツ】

Bhutan is a tiny landlocked country in South Asia located at the eastern end of the Himalayas. It is bordered by China and India. Thimphu is the capital and largest city of Bhutan.

 Bhutan is also called the land of the Thunder Dragon, a reference to its wild thunderstorms striking the valleys from the peaks of the Himalayas. The dazzling light of thunder was believed to be the fire from a dragon.

Stamps:

Flora and Fauna 

(Issued 15-05-2014)

Bhutan Ethnic Dancers

(Issued ???)

BHUTAN ~ Layaps - Royal Highland Festival ~

... Lovely view of Layaps performing their traditional dance dressed in their local costumes.... they wear distinctive bamboo hats and robes made of yak hair cloth... the women of Laya respect their tradition, religion, and history over the centuries... this festival is held to promote and preserve the way of life and culture of these nomadic highland people living in Butanan's highest village... and it helps natives continue taking care of their rich and unspoiled mountain environment...  Bhutan's Royal Highland Festival is mix of music, dance and sport... Thanks Som! ヽ(ヅ)ノ    

Laya is a remote Himalayan village located in the district of Gasa. It is one of Bhutan’s most northern settlements very close to the Tibetan border, at an altitude of 3,850 metres, just below the Tsendagang peak. Gasa has some of the country's highest mountain peaks, with more than a hundred glacial lakes supplying many of Bhutan's rivers.

Most Layaps are semi-nomadic yak herders or collect the high-value cordyceps, a fungus that lives on certain caterpillars in the high mountain regions of East Asia.

Stamp:

Atsara storytellers

(Issued 10-09-2015)

BHUTAN ~ Punakha Dzong - Punakha ~

... Yeaaaah!!👍 New country for my collection ( had one but sent from India)... "the land of happiness"... Bhutan remains one of the most mysterious places in the world... beautiful view of the impressive Punakha Dzong...  the second oldest and second largest in Bhutan... it is the seat of the district administration and monastic center...  the dzongs serve as focal points of the country's political, economic, religious, and social life... their thick white walls, which slope inward in Tibetan style, shelter Buddhist lamas, government officials, and artisans... usually situated on a prominent site overlooking a stream or river...  Punakha Dzong is one of the most magnificent of all the fortresses in Bhutan... Thanks a lot Petra!!【ツ】

The land of happiness Bhutan is called the Jewel of the Eastern Himalayas. This small, landlocked country is located along the southern slopes of the Himalayan range, bounded by Tibet and India.

The official name of Bhutan is Druk-yul, which means ‘land of the thunder dragon’. It earned this name because of the fierce storms, that often roll in from the Himalayas. Since it is cut off from the rest of the world by the Great Himalayas, a unique culture and tradition based on gentle Buddhist beliefs have evolved over time. Punakha used to be the capital of Bhutan till 1955, after which it was moved to Thimphu.

Punakha Dzong ( also known as the palace of great happiness or bliss") is placed strategically at the junction of the Pho Chu and Mo Chu rivers, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal built this Dzong in 1637. Several fires and earthquakes damaged this Dzong and during the recent years it has been restored by the present monarch.

It is listed as a tentative site in Bhutan's Tentative List for UNESCO inclusion.

Stamps:

2015 Chinese New Year - Year of the Ram
(Issued 19-02-2015)

BHUTAN ~Takshang Monastery~

Got again three lovely cards today, an interesting statue from the USA, a new beach from Brazil and after Sri Lanka a second new place this week! :) The card is sent from India a neighbouring country of Bhutan.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked nation in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalaya Mountains and is bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by People's Republic of China.

This monastery has been built in 1684, on the site where Guru Padmasambhava, the essence of Buddha Amitabha, landed on the back of a tiger and mediated for several months.Taksang is one of the most famous monasteries in Bhutan. It hangs on a cliff at over ten thousand feet above the bottom of Paro valley. The nameTaksang means “Tiger’s nest”, the monastery includes seven temples which can all be visited.