Chapter 17: The Marriage System in Lower Kheng

Lower Kheng area in Zhemgang in central Bhutan has a unique system of marriage which is at the verge of extinction because more and more boys are getting educated and do not choose to work for three years to get a wife. Also, once employed as civil servant, there is no time for the old system to be continued. This paper tries to bring to light the marriage process practiced in Lower Kheng (Ngala, Gosing and Bjoka). A boy and a girl may like each other, but the real marriage takes place when the boy’s parents take him to the girl’s house and hand him over to the girl’s parents. Handing over is done through a mediator, who is called Lyonpo Gara Tongtanpa, and who is also required to bring the boy back home from the in-laws. The boy has to spend three years at the girl’s house working for his in-laws and he will be taken back along with his bride after the groom’s parents have paid the cost of the girl in the form of meat, drinks and presents.