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People and customs |
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Great
mountain ranges, rising in the N to Kula Kangri
(24,784 ft/7,554 m), Bhutan's tallest peak, run
north and south, dividing the country into forested
valleys with some pastureland. The perpetually
snow-covered Great Himalayas are uninhabited, except
for some Buddhist monks in scattered monasteries.
Bhutan is drained by several rivers rising in the
Himalayas and flowing into India. Thunderstorms and
torrential rains are common; rainfall averages from
200 to 250 in. (508–635 cm) on the southern plains.
The valleys, especially the Paro, are intensively
cultivated.
Bhutan's people are mostly Bhotias, who call
themselves Drukpas (dragon people). They are
ethnically related to the Tibetans and practice a
form of Buddhism closely related to the Lamaism of
Tibet; many Bhutanese live in monasteries. Dzongka,
the official language, is also basically Tibetan. In
S Bhutan there is a sizable minority of Nepalese
(about a third of the population), who practice
Hinduism and speak various Nepalese dialects. Large
numbers of ethnic Nepalese have been expelled to
Nepal since the late 1980s, and the government has
pressured the Nepalese to adopt Bhutanese dress,
customs, religion, and language. In addition, some
15% of Bhutan's people are from indigenous or
migrant tribal groups. |
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Religious of bhutan
In terms of religion and faith, Bhutanese people
practise Lamaist Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity
and Animism. The Lamaist Buddhism is divided into
two groups- Drukpa Kargyupa sect to which the King
and other high government officials belong to and
Nyingmapa Buddhism. The Sharchhop community in the
east practise Nyingmapa Buddhism.
ESTIMATED RELIGIOUS POPULATION FOR 2003
DATE: 04 December, 2002
|
Religion |
Population |
% of Population |
|
Drukpa Krgyupa Buddhism |
135,071 |
16.21
% |
|
Nyngmapa Buddhism |
287,244
|
34,48
% |
|
Hindu
|
375,639
|
45.10
% |
|
Christians |
*19,130
|
02.30
% |
|
Tibetan Buddhism |
7,438
|
00.89
% |
|
Animist
|
8,538 |
01.02
% |
|
Total |
833,060 |
100.00 %
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