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Posted by ++ on July 4, 2008, 4:04 pm
The Smithsonian Folklife Festival has as one of its major elements this
year Bhutan and its culture. A Mahayanna Buddhist Temple has gone up on
the mall and there are bad renditions of quasi Bhutanese food for the
hungry festival goer thanks to the efforts of local Indian
restauranteers. Or you can go for some Texas barbeque. The real draws
of the festival are the music and dance from Bhutan and the Zydeco and
Cajan/Creole.
But for lovers of bamboo and grasses, there's a hidden treat, a tent on
bamboo arts and associated with the tents on architecture and the one on
herbal medicine, if you're lucky enough to get a chance to talk to one
of the expert craftspeople, you will learn a lot. It was fun to see a
few cylindrical sections of Moso in a plastic bucket along with some
climbing bamboo reading to be split and some cames ready to reinforce
some woven ware
The ancient pre-electric wood turning equipment was a delight to
discover as were the tightly fitted boxes and bowls out of species
turned on the equipment.
Had a great time, heard some great music, got to dance like a maniac,
saw some other folks with waist length braids besides the aging self,
smelled some unique smells and had a wonderful discussion with a weaver
about the use and timing of belly bands after birth and other after
birth customs of that great Buddhist people.
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