Archery and Recreation

Archery is Bhutan's national sport and usually comprises part of all festivities in the Kingdom. Traditional Bhutanese bows and arrows are made from bamboo. Small wooden targets are placed at either ends of standard Bhutanese regulation-size archery fields (approximately 140 meters in length!).

Apart from the great skill of Bhutanese archers, archery contests are colorful communal events also characterized by dancing and singing cheerleaders (often intended to poke fun at the opposing team's performance).

Other traditional Bhutanese games involving stone-throwing and darts will be demonstrated throughout the Smithsonian's 2008 Bhutan program on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.