Monday, 29 Aug 2022, 20:20 WIB Editor: Agung Sasongko
Haa Valley in Bhutan
IHRAM.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Bhutan, in the Bhutanese language, Druk Yul, means Land of the Thunder Dragon. The white dragon is evident in the flag of Bhutan. This government began to open itself to the outside world in the 1970s.
Due to its small size, the Muslim population in Bhutan is very small. The country only has a territory of about 38 thousand square kilometers. According to the CIA Factbook, Muslims are only one percent of the population in Bhutan. In 2009, the Pew Research Center estimated the same number, namely 7,000 Muslims with a population of around 1.8 million people.
Bhutan is the only country in the world that recognizes Mahayana Buddhism as its official religion. The government does not have official data on the number of Muslims because religions other than Buddhism and Hinduism are prohibited.
The intense coverage of the western media about Muslims involved in terrorism inevitably affects the perception of Bhutanese people about Islam. In the news, the perpetrators are often labeled ‘Islamist rebel’ or ‘Islamist bad guy’. As a result, Bhutanese tend to view Islam and its adherents negatively.
The origins of the Bhutanese people come from Nepal, Northern Burma, northeastern India, and Tibet. The majority of the population embraced Buddhism. Minority religions are Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity.
In 2008, the Ahmadiyya community in Bhutan established a Mosque. This is the only mosque owned by Bhutanese Muslims. As the name suggests, the Jaigaon or Joygaon Mosque is located in a small town in Bengal, Western India. The location is on the border of Bhutan with India. Not much information is available about this mosque. How its shape and architecture have never been published.
As a mountainous country, Bhutan has amazing views of mountains, hills, and valleys. Ecology and wild animals are still well preserved.
Unfortunately, the government limits tourist visits. Tourists who want to visit must follow a tour package. It is recommended not to visit Bhutan as a backpacker or solo traveler.
The availability of halal food is very rare. To be safe, a Muslim who will visit Bhutan should avoid consuming meat. You can also ask the local community about where to find halal food. But, Bhutan has many types of vegetarian dishes that are famous for their deliciousness.
source https://ihram.republika.co.id/berita/rhdnm4313/jejak-islam-di-negeri-naga-petir
Categories: Ahmadis, Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, Asia, Bhutan, Islam