The cultural significance of buckwheat among the Brokkat

Brokkat Community
Bumthang District, Bhutan

Buckwheat, a pseudo-grain renowned for its short growing season and resilience to acidic soil, has found favour among the montane people for its hardiness as a food crop. In the small town of Dhur, situated in the Bumthang district of central Bhutan, the Brokkat community has cultivated buckwheat for generations, creating a deep-rooted connection between the crop and their way of life.

Sonam, a native speaker and member of the Brokkat community living in Dhur, has captured the essence of this agricultural practice through audio-visual and photographic documentation. Her project spans from the intricacies of buckwheat cultivation to unravelling the profound connection between buckwheat and the daily life of Brokkat people.

Beyond being a staple food grain, buckwheat holds a significant culinary role in the Brokkat community, with various recipes crafted from buckwheat flour passed down through generations. Additionally, buckwheat is woven into the fabric of Brokkat rituals and ceremonies, further emphasizing its cultural and ceremonial importance in the community’s traditions. Sonam’s documentation project serves as a testament to the enduring relationship between the Brokkat people and the versatile, resilient buckwheat crop that has sustained them for generations.