The
early inhabitants of Bhutan practiced ‘Bonism’, a practice of making
animal sacrifice and worshiping non-living objects such as mountains,
lakes, rivers, trees and rocks. With the advent of Buddhism in 7th
century the Bonism gradually disappeared from the country.
The
country’s official religion is Drukpa Kagye, school of tantric Mahayana
Buddhism, which is similar to Tibetan Buddhism but has unique beliefs
and practices. The religious affair of the country is looked after by
the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot) who also enjoys equal power as the king.
The Bhutanese people of Nepali origin in the south practice Hinduism.
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