June 18, 2026
THIMPHU – Thousands of kilometres from home, a growing number of young Bhutanese are being raised in foreign languages and cultures, prompting concern that the country’s next generation may slowly drift away from its cultural roots and national identity.
Bhutanese living abroad warn that without timely and sustained efforts, future generations risk becoming increasingly disconnected from the traditions, values, and heritage that define Bhutan.
In a positive development, a youth group known as Nangpei Nazhoen, established by Dungzin Garab Rinpoche in Australia, is working to address these concerns.
According to Rinpoche’s official Facebook page, there is genuine concern that young Bhutanese growing up in Australia may gradually lose interest in their cultural and religious roots.
Rinpoches and Lamas visiting Australia have also consistently encouraged the Bhutanese diaspora to maintain their cultural identity, practise traditions, and pass on Bhutanese values to younger generations.
Today, more than 60,000 Bhutanese are living overseas.
Ugyen, a parent staying in Australia, said she is concerned about culture and tradition as the Bhutanese population continues to grow there. She said that due to study and work commitments, Bhutanese abroad are not able to practise their culture and traditions regularly, unlike in Bhutan. She said she feels happy during National Day and religious events organised by Bhutanese communities, which help connect Bhutanese people together.
Sonam, a student in Australia, said that any activities or events abroad that are related to preserving one’s culture and traditions must continue, as they have long-term positive implications for the country. He said parents should teach their children the good values that Bhutanese society has cherished and practised for generations. He said Bhutanese youth must never forget their homeland.
Initiatives by the Bhutanese diaspora
According to the Public Relations Manager of the Association of Bhutanese in Perth Incorporated (ABPI), Tashi Wangmo, Bhutanese culture continues to thrive abroad despite the distance from Bhutan, sustained by the collective efforts of families, religious groups, volunteers, community leaders, and organisations such as ABPI.
ABPI regularly organises community events, including celebrations of National Day, Losar, cultural festivals, sporting events, youth programmes, family gatherings, community volunteering activities, and religious observances.
One notable example was the recent Bhutanese Gala Night in Perth, which brought together more than 28 Bhutanese artists and hundreds of community members.
Through social media platforms, online meetings, community groups, and live broadcasts, Bhutanese living abroad remain connected with family members, national developments, cultural celebrations, and important events taking place in Bhutan.
“Many families abroad teach their children the core Bhutanese values of respect for elders, compassion, humility, gratitude, discipline, and community responsibility,” said Tashi Wangmo. “Children are encouraged to wear the gho and kira during important cultural, religious, and national celebrations.”
ABPI also promotes youth engagement through volunteer programmes and community leadership opportunities.
“Parents encourage their children to speak Dzongkha at home, practise respectful behaviour, wear traditional attire during important occasions, and participate in cultural and religious activities,” she added.
The organisation is currently exploring initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural education for younger generations.
These include youth leadership programmes, cultural workshops, volunteer activities, community mentorship, and long-term efforts to improve access to Dzongkha language learning and Bhutanese cultural education for children growing up abroad.
Challenges
Despite such efforts, multiple challenges continue to affect the transmission of Bhutanese culture across generations.
Rapid urbanisation, globalisation, changing aspirations, and increasing reliance on foreign languages and digital content have all impacted the continuity of traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
Traditional settlements are disappearing at an increasing rate, while the number of skilled artisans, conservators, and practitioners of traditional crafts continues to decline.
Resource constraints, limited technical expertise, climate-related risks, and the need to conserve a vast number of cultural properties across the country further complicate preservation efforts.
Among diaspora communities, children often grow up in English-speaking environments, making it increasingly difficult to maintain fluency in Dzongkha and other Bhutanese languages.
Busy work schedules and modern lifestyles also reduce opportunities for regular cultural engagement within families.
Another concern is that younger generations may participate in cultural traditions without fully understanding their deeper meaning, viewing them instead as occasional celebrations rather than lived values.
The widespread use of smartphones and digital platforms has further exposed children to diverse global cultures from an early age. In Bhutan itself, English fluency is often more dominant among students, and the school curriculum is largely delivered in English, reinforcing this trend.
Government intervention
The Department of Culture and Dzongkha Development (DCDD) under the Ministry of Home Affairs acknowledges that modernisation and cultural preservation are not mutually exclusive. The department’s approach is guided by Bhutan’s philosophy of the Middle Path.
One of its key priorities is the conservation of Bhutan’s built heritage, including dzongs, temples, monasteries, traditional villages, vernacular houses, and archaeological sites.
At the community level, the department continues to support the preservation of traditional farmhouses and vernacular architecture through technical assistance, documentation, and rehabilitation programmes.
The department also places strong emphasis on engaging young people. Through annual summer and winter cultural immersion programmes, Saturday activities, and hands-on training in traditional performing arts, music, calligraphy, woodblock printing, paper conservation, sculpture, and other crafts, DCDD is nurturing the next generation of cultural custodians.
It also safeguards and promotes Bhutan’s traditional dances and songs, including Zhungdra, Boedra, Zhey, and Chham, along with other folk and religious musical traditions.
Recognising the importance of technology, the department is increasingly using digital platforms to promote culture and Dzongkha. It is developing digital learning materials, encouraging Dzongkha use on smartphones, digitising public services, and modernising the national inventory system for cultural properties.
A notable innovation includes exploring the use of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and other digital technologies for cultural preservation and promotion.
In collaboration with the GovTech Agency and international partners, the department is also preparing an immersive exhibition designed to reimagine how Bhutan’s cultural heritage is experienced.
Way forward
The DCDD is exploring advanced tools such as 3D laser scanning, artificial intelligence, and modern documentation systems to monitor and protect cultural heritage.
It also aims to expand community outreach programmes, particularly in rural areas, strengthen the preservation of manuscripts and traditional printing techniques, and promote Dzongkha and indigenous knowledge systems.
Furthermore, the department is working to mainstream cultural professions by creating certified career pathways in heritage conservation, museum studies, traditional arts, and cultural resource management.