Archery goes back many centuries here but was not officially declared the national sport of the kingdom until 1971, when Bhutan became a member of the United Nations. Since then, the popularity of Bhutanese archery has increased even further; is showcased during local festivals, between public ministries and departments; and between the dzongkhags and the regional teams. It's culturally distinctive - including, for example, verbal "battles" in which archers display their intellectual aplomb and even literary skills whilst belittling opponents - and is a way of socialization, communication, and development of relations between people.

Read more about this fascinating country in Tripatini member Truly Bhutan's post An Overview of the Mystical Kingdom of Bhutan.