Gross National Happiness

Bhutan at the

Smithsonian Folk Festival,

Washington, 29 June 2008

Bhutan, a Himalayan country of which we knew little, was the guest in this year’s Smithsonian Folk Festival on the Mall, here in Washington DC.

We went to visit its pavilions on a very hot mid-day and came away intrigued by the colors and patterns of its artistry as much as by the people who represented Bhutan.

Here are a couple samples of both of them.

We noticed even a pleasant little political spin there, about “Gross National Happiness”, a term which, Wikipedia tells us, “was coined by Bhutan's King … in 1972 in response to criticism that his economy was growing poorly. It signaled his commitment to building an economy that would serve Bhutan's unique culture based on Buddhist spiritual values. Like many moral goals, it is somewhat easier to state than to define.”

Judging by the pleasures of the day, the festival created quite a bit of local happiness.

Wishing you happiness,

Janet & Aldo