What is lhops?

The Lhop or Lhomi people, also known as Doya, are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in Bhutan. They are primarily concentrated in the south-western district of Samtse and the neighbouring Indian state of West Bengal. They are believed to be the original inhabitants of Samtse district, where they settled for centuries in small isolated communities before being merged with the majority Bhutanese population in the mid-20th century.

The Lhops speak their own dialect of the Lhop language, which has no written form. They still follow their own traditional customs and beliefs, including shamanism, animism, and Buddhism. They rely on agriculture and animal husbandry for their subsistence and produce crops such as rice, maize, millet, and vegetables. The Lhops are skilled artisans and have an innate talent for weaving, wood carving, and metalwork. Lhop women are known for their expertise in weaving intricate patterns on clothes and baskets using a traditional back-strap loom.

Despite their small population, the Lhop people have a rich cultural heritage and continue to preserve their unique identity through their language, customs, and traditions. However, they face numerous challenges, such as poverty and limited access to education and healthcare. The government of Bhutan has initiated various development programs aimed at improving the socio-economic condition of the Lhops.