Cock And Culture

Bhutan being blessed with numerous scholars and great saints are endowed with rich culture and tradition. We had started open to outside world as early as 1960’s and now everything is in full stepping onto digital world. Bhutanese people don’t posses any watch to look for time during those days and that’s how adult male chicken (cock), had played the fundamental function of time in the past.

 Different people in different regions of the country have their own way of time observation based on cock voice chirping especially during early hours of dawn

People in the eastern region generally had notion that three to four rounds  of cock voice which normally sung with certain range is believed to be  welcome of dawn. People had maintained certain kind of time table where supposing first round for grain milling in traditional way and spontaneously for certain other household chore.  

 Some people will get early watering from distance pound, bamboo collection, weaving and some making cheese and butter through milk crushing in traditional Bhutanese container. So, all early works were performed as per cock sequential musical rhythms round of voice.

This types of voice observation and early work doing are just remain as history as it was replaced by many brands of watches today with the advancement of modern technology. Therefore, we don’t much bother on ancient style of looking time and even today rearing cock in villages is diminishing albeit forget about town.

In the past there were also believe that cock voicing during late dusk is bad omen and house of cock replying to tune of starter is very bad omen according to great grandparents.  So, it is very stunning to know how cock play vital social role beside key reproductive function to hen and therefore, its preservation as part of culture seemed vital.