Birth

Childbirth is an important event in life and Bhutanese have several beliefs, rituals and practices associated with it. Experienced housewives tend to the birth of a child although today most childbirths take place in a hospital under the care of nurses and midwives. The traditional women of Bhutan follow their local procedures for birth and also celebrate the birth with families, friends and villagers. They adopt customary practices of child and mother's hygience and health through bathing and diet, and also conduct rituals for their wellbeing. Childbirth is followed by practices at various stages of bringing the child out of the house, naming the child, cutting its hair for the first time, etc.