Archery

Archery in Bhutan is the national sport of the Kingdom, declared as such in 1971. It is a martial art practiced among a modern population that abhors killing, and is a way of socialization, communication, and development of relations between people. The sport is played during religious and secular public holidays, local festivals, and between public ministries and departments. Archery tournaments and performances have also become a significant point of interest for tourism in Bhutan. The distance to the target is about 145 meters, and the targets are cut from wood and brightly painted. Bhutanese bows are made of bamboo, and arrows from bamboo or reeds, fletched with feather vanes. Archery teams number at 13 players, and teams take turns shooting two arrows at a time first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. The first to score 25 points wins