Wedding in Bhutan
Wedding in the Himalayas-the Bhutanese Way Simple and Memorable
For the first time in the history of Bhutan’s tourism, we are making this offer to people from other countries of getting married under the shadows of the Himalayan ranges. Marriage is an expensive affair in other countries but not so in Bhutan despite the color and beauty of the affair. It will be also something special for people from other countries whereby they can combine marriage with their visit to the country of Gross National Happiness. You could say that it will be a marriage in the heaven, watched as you are by the celestial beings that dwell on the tops of snow-clad mountains.
A fine and auspicious date will be determined by the astrologer for the marriage day. This is considered very important because the marriage has to last for a lifetime where both man and woman can find peace and happiness. In doing so, you have to send in your date of birth to enable the astrologer to match the birth signs and elements of both the partners.
On that special day, the monks will be called to chant prayers and ladies to perform the dances. The bridegroom will be led on a beautifully chaperoned horse to the bride’s house with his group of attendants singing songs along the way. At the house of the bride, there will be monks chanting prayers while the ladies and men of the house will be waiting at the door to receive the bridegroom and his entourage.
The bridegroom will be then led into the chamber of the bride and they will be seated next to each other. The first item is the tea ceremony where the couple will be made to drink from one cup. Following that the guests will start offering of white scarf’s and gifts to the newly married couple.
The day then begins with a archery match between the men from the bride and bridegroom’s party. Should the bride’s party win, it is said that the wife would have an upper hand in the affairs of the house and vice-versa. The archery match also calls for dancing girls and lasts the whole day. Everyone will be served meal and drinks throughout the day by the host. This entertainment will go late into night when there will be singing and merry- making by all those who are gathered for the occasion.
Lastly, the couple will be blessed again by the monks and they will retire to a special bedroom specially prepared for the couple. The next morning as they emerge from their bedroom the ladies will tease the bride and the men the bridegroom. The couple will then be taken to a nearby temple to pray and receive blessings.
Some of the couples choose to go on a holiday to the hot spring after that. Others may like to go around the country on sight seeing holiday.
This may sound very simple but one will be surprised to see the kind of enjoyment and color on the ground making everyone feel that it should last for months. You can be the first couple to try it.
