Archery, the national sport, remains the favorite sport and absorbing pastime both for the young and old alike. It was declared as National game in 1971. What perhaps started as an equipment to threaten enemies in the ancient times, archery now is a great competitive and recreational sport in Bhutan. Today traditional annual archery contests are held throughout the country. These contests are important both as reaffirmation of traditional culture and also as popular amusement. The tournament begins with initiation ceremonies and traditional breakfast. The targets are placed at 140 meters apart and because of this great distance the team members gather dangerously close to the target, the archer’s team mates perform a celebratory slow-motion dance & sing praises of the shooter who tucks a colored scarf into belt.
Women decked out in their finest clothes are cheer leaders for the opposing teams at major tournaments. They dance and sing between play, and during the shooting they perform brief routines. No major national or local holiday or festive occasion is complete without an archery game. Archery is considered to be an art, mastered to attain physical dexterity, mental strength and above all, the highest spirit of competition.
