Rituals of Mountain Communities in the Bhutan Himalayan Region for Livelihood Sustainability

This chapter explores the vital role of rituals and indigenous traditions in sustaining the livelihoods and cultural identity of mountain communities in the Bhutan Himalayan region. Based on six case studies, it highlights how spiritual practices rooted in Shamanism and Animism are deeply embedded in Bhutanese culture and continue to guide the conservation of natural resources. These annual rituals, often performed to appease local deities, reinforce community cohesion and promote ecological balance, especially in geographically isolated terrains where reverence for nature restricts exploitation. The chapter emphasizes the urgent need to document and preserve these oral traditions, which are largely absent from academic literature, as a means to integrate Indigenous Traditional Knowledge (ITK) into national policy frameworks and development planning. It calls for educational institutions to incorporate indigenous knowledge systems into curricula to strengthen cultural resilience in the face of climate change and modernization. The chapter also raises concerns about the erosion of local languages and cultural practices due to rapid socio-economic transformation. It recommends that government agencies and development partners invest in research and development to safeguard the cultural and ecological heritage of Bhutan’s mountain communities.