A) National Dress in Daily Life

The highlighted sentences on page 14 offer significant historical context regarding the cultural importance of traditional dress in Bhutan, illustrating how this attire fosters a sense of pride and dignity among the locals. This connection to heritage not only reinforces individual identity but also cultivates a collective national pride.

Ref:

Whitecross, R. W. (2017). Law, "tradition" and legitimacy: Contesting Driglam Namzha. In Contemporary South Asian studies, 115–134. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315526476_Law_Tradition_and_Legitimacy_Contesting_Driglam_Namzha

A) National Dress in Daily Life

The highlighted claims on page 14 demonstrate that Asian countries, such as Bhutan, tend towards a high-context culture, where individuals prefer to express themselves using implicit messages, as seen in their association with appearance.

Ref:

Broeder, P. (2021). Informed communication in high context and low context cultures. Journal of Education, Innovation and Communication, 3(1), 13-24. https://repository.tilburguniversity.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/153bf7f7-69d6-4645-af59-a8bac56eb05c/content

A) Bhutan's Terrain Affects Transportation and Healthcare Accessibility

The highlighted text on pages 1 and 2 supports the claim that Bhutan's mountainous terrain poses challenges to its infrastructure, including healthcare.

Ref:

Sato, S. (2024). Access to healthcare for marginalized communities in rural South Asia: An analysis of structural inequalities in Sri Lanka and Bhutan. Authorea. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.173016226.62682434/v1

B) Absence of Traffic Lights in the Whole Country

The highlighted points on pages 66-68 of this article suggest that the absence of a traffic signal system in Bhutan can lead to fatal situations. The authors note that the majority of road traffic accidents (87%) are caused by reckless human driving, which is exacerbated by the weak enforcement of traffic regulations.

Ref:

Wangdi, C., Gurung, M. S., Duba, T., Wilkinson, E., Tun, Z. M., & Tripathy, J. P. (2018). Burden, pattern and causes of road traffic accidents in Bhutan, 2013–2014: A police record review. International journal of injury control and safety promotion, 25(1), 65-69. https://doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2017.1341930

Based on page 1 of the article, the highlighted information describes Bhutan as a country known for its steep mountains, deep valleys, and rich biodiversity. It also mentions that Bhutan covers an area of approximately 38,394 square kilometres.

Ref:

Nepal, T. K. (2022). An overview of biodiversity in Bhutan. Asian Journal of Research in Agriculture and Forestry, 7–19. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajraf/2022/v8i130144

A) Buddhism’s Influence

Based on page 144 of the article, the highlighted information explains that Guru Rinpoche is known as the “Second Buddha.”

Ref:

Kapstein, M. (2022). About Padmasambhava: Historical Narratives and Later Transformations of Guru Rinpoche. Buddhist Studies Review, 39(1). https://doi.org/10.1558/bsrv.23617

A) Buddhism’s Influence

Based on page 9 of the article, the highlighted information suggests that a monastery can be located in either a communal or remote setting. In communal settings, the monastery plays a key role in both the social and cultural life of the community, in addition to its religious duties.

Ref:

Thinley, J., Chimi, C., & Chettri, N. (2021). Spiritual and Spatial Significance of Choedrak Monastery in the Cultural Geography of Bhutan. 17(3), 407–430. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11759-021-09432-Z

B) Youth VS. Tradition

Based on page 524 of the article, the highlighted information suggests that media facades greatly influence the cultural perceptions and values of youth. Their dynamic and visually engaging nature offers a transformative cultural experience for young people.

Ref:

K, D., & Shelby, A. (2024). Media facade transformation: Shaping youth culture. International Journal of Science and Research Archive. https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2024.11.1.0055

A) Ley Jumdrey (Karmic Cause and Effect) in Daily Life

Based on page 565, the highlighted section mentioned about 'Ley Jumdrey', the Buddhist concept of karma and how it shapes ethical living and personal responsibility in Bhutanese culture. This was the foundation for the Ley Jumdrey section, explaining karma as intention and how it impacts both individuals and society

Ref:

Phuntsho, K. (2004). Echoes of ancient ethos: Reflections on some popular Bhutanese social themes (pp. 564-580). Centre for Bhutan Studies. https://fid4sa-repository.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/2630/1/23_SpdrPglt.pdf

A) Ley Jumdrey (Karmic Cause and Effect) in Daily Life

The highlighted section in this article helped in understanding how Ley Jumdrey is practiced daily in Bhutan, focusing on community harmony and personal responsibility. It explains how Ley Jumdrey encourages individuals to contribute to societal peace and balance

Ref:

Pelzang, R., Johnstone, M., & Hutchinson, A. M. (2017). Culture matters: Indigenizing patient safety in Bhutan. Health Policy and Planning, 32(7), 1042–1048. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czx042

B) Tha Damtshig (Faithfulness and Loyalty)

This article explains how Buddhist ethics, including concepts like Le Judre and Tha Damtshig, influence social behavior and community values in Bhutan. It discusses how these ethical principles shape relationships and community cohesion (Whitecross, 2008).

Ref:

Whitecross R. (2008). “Virtuous Beings”:  The Concept of tha damtshig and Being a Moral Person in Contemporary Bhutanese Society. Himalaya, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies, 28(1-2). DigitalCommons@Macalester College. https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol28/iss1/6/?utm_source=digitalcommons.macalester.edu%2Fhimalaya%2Fvol28%2Fiss1%2F6&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages

A) Traditional Gender Roles

Based on the information highlighted in the article, Bhutan has historically placed women in traditional gender roles, primarily within the domestic sphere, involving caregiving, household duties, and informal sector work. This has restricted women's participation in high-status professions and leadership positions. These roles have resulted in a gendered division of labor, where men continue to dominate the political, religious, and business spheres, consolidating power and influence .

Ref:

Dem, C. (2025). The role played by Bhutanese women in shaping democratic consolidation: A critical analysis of political participation and political empowerment in Bhutan. Murdoch University). 2-79. https://researchportal.murdoch.edu.au/esploro/outputs/graduate/The-Role-Played-by-Bhutanese-Women/991005790472607891

B) Limited Economic Participation

Based on the information given in the article, Bhutanese women are disproportionately represented in low-wage sectors such as agriculture, tourism, and craftsmanship, where they perform essential yet undervalued labor. Their economic participation is largely confined to informal and traditional sectors, with limited opportunities for career advancement or access to capital. In contrast, men dominate high-wage occupations and are more likely to hold positions in business ownership and leadership roles.

Ref:

National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), & United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), (2023). Gender equality in public administration in Bhutan. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2024-11/gender_equality_in_public_administration_in_bhutan.pdf

C)  Education and Career Gaps

Based on page 12 of the article, it is highlighted that gendered expectations in Bhutan contribute to higher dropout rates for girls, especially in rural areas, where traditional views on women's roles are more deeply entrenched. This significantly affects girls’ access to education and their ability to pursue career opportunities.

Ref:

Seden, K. (2024). Gender equality and social inclusion in Bhutan: A situational analysis focused on children's valued educational capabilities. Educational Innovation and Practice, 9(1), 1-70. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386223269_Gender_Equality_and_Social_Inclusion_in_Bhutan_A_Situational_Analysis_Focused_on_Children's_Valued_Educational_Capabilities

C)  Education and Career Gaps

Based on the article, a few pages were highlighted, explaining that the gendered expectations in Bhutan contribute to higher dropout rates for girls, particularly in rural areas, where traditional views on women’s roles are more deeply entrenched. These gendered expectations significantly limit girls' access to education and hinder their ability to pursue career opportunities

Ref:

World Bank Group. (2018). South Asia region baseline assessment for women engineers in the power sector. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/971721573811319478-0310022019/render/WePOWERRegionalReportPrint.pdf

Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/gorzomrinpoche/posts/what-is-a-damtsig-or-samayathe-tibetan-or-bhutanese-word-damtsig-dam-tshig-samay/1649870895114156/

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Based on page 6 of the article, the highlighted information explains that during the festival, mask dance or cham is performed by monks wearing colourful costumes and masks.

Ref:

Suntikul, W. (2018). Cultural sustainability and fluidity in Bhutan's traditional festivals. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 26(12), 2102-2116. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1533021

Based on page 7 of the article, the highlighted information provides key details about the Neypo festival, specifically its date, celebrated on the third day of the second lunar month, and its venue, Gaytsa village.

Based on page 8 of the article, the highlighted information illustrates the cultural and spiritual significance of the Dralha Pang Dey Cham, a traditional dance performed during the festival.

Ref:

Lepcha, P. T., Shivangi, S., & Seldon, Y. (2022). Festival and culture in Bhutan: A study of neypo festival of gaytsa in Bumthang Dzongkhag. International Journal of Health Sciences, 6, 12598-12616. https://doi.org/10.53730/ijhs.v6nS2.8339

Based on page 134 of the article, the highlighted information illustrates Bhutan’s unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH), emphasising its four pillars of sustainable development, culture preservation, environmental conservation, and good governance, developed in response to dissatisfaction with GDP’s inability to measure true well-being.

Ref:

Kezang, Lama, P., & Dorji, S. T. (2017). Gross National Happiness and SCP in Bhutan. In L. Akenji, H. Bengtsson, V. Toivio, & Y. Yagi (Eds.), Sustainable Asia: Supporting the transition to sustainable consumption and production in Asian developing countries (pp. 133–162). World Scientific. https://doi.org/10.1142/9789814730914_0006

Based on page 263 of the article, the highlighted information shows that economic projects must undergo GNH screening to ensure alignment with principles of sustainable development and cultural preservation.

Ref:

Nakthum, P., Upachai, P. T., & Sankaew, P. D. (2024). Bhutanese Buddhism: Harmonizing tradition, sustainability and well-being. The Journal of International Buddhist Studies College (JIBSC), 10(3), 257-271. https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ibsc/article/view/280260

Based on page 83 of the article, the highlighted information shows that Bhutan’s GNH framework uses Buddhist principles to promote sustainable development and well-being beyond economic growth.

Based on page 84 of the article, the highlighted information demonstrates Bhutan’s commitment to sustainable development through policies that mandate 60% forest cover for ecological conservation, and to cultural preservation by supporting traditional arts, festivals, and Buddhist rituals.

Ref:

Vajpayee, A. (2024). Integration of Buddhist values in Bhutan's governance. Smaratungga: Journal of Education and Buddhist Studies. https://doi.org/10.53417/SJEBS.V4I2.122

Based on page 388 of the article, the highlighted information demonstrates that recent policy in Bhutan requires conservation projects to incorporate community-based tourism to strengthen local resilience and reduce climate vulnerability.

Based on page 389 of the article, the highlighted information shows that key tourism products in Bhutan’s community-based projects include homestays, traditional hot stone baths, local games like archery and darts, guided hikes, and festivals.

Ref:

Dendup, N., Tshering, K., & Choda, J. (2022). Community-based tourism as a strategy for building climate resilience in Bhutan. In A. K. E. Haque, P. Mukhopadhyay, M. Nepal, & M. R. Shammin (Eds.), Climate change and community resilience (pp. 387–398). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0680-9_25

Based on page 544 of the article, the highlighted information demonstrates that Bhutan’s “High Value, Low Volume” tourism policy, which seeks to limit visitors while enhancing service quality to support development and preserve culture and environment.

Based on page 545 of the article, the highlighted information illustrates that the sustainable development fee funds projects like clean energy, infrastructure, health and education in Bhutan. It also reflects Bhutan’s commitment through its constitutional mandate to maintain at least 60% forest cover, which is currently nearly 72%, surpassing the requirement.

Ref:

Rath, B. (2024). Sustainable tourism in Bhutan: The philosophical underpinnings. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 8(2), 542–548. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10968200

Based on page 80 of the article, the highlighted information shows Bhutan’s strong political commitment through measures like banning log exports, promoting electric cars, limiting tourists, reducing waste, and shifting to renewable energy.

Based on page 81 of the article, the highlighted information shows that Bhutan’s economic policies prioritise environmental protection and strive to minimise harm effectively.

Based on page 85 and 86 of the article, the highlighted information shows Bhutan's progress through dedicated ministries, constitutional mandates, and data-driven tracking aligned with the SDGs to achieve carbon-negative status.

Ref:

Hossain, S., & Jami, A. T. (2023). Opportunities and challenges in sustainable development and governance in South Asia: Case study of Bhutan. In T. Yamaguchi (Ed.), Moving toward net-zero carbon society: Challenges and opportunities (pp. 79–87). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24545-9_5