According to a Gross National Happiness survey carried out in 2010 by the Centre for Bhutan Studies, more than 250,000 Bhutanese chew doma-paney (betel nut and leaf). It also revealed that 51% of women chew doma compared to 47% men. No wonder, Bhutanese, in general love to chew doma-paney. Doma also serves as an ice-breaker at social gatherings and meetings.
Why and how did doma-paney become part and parcel of Bhutanese tradition and culture. According to Secretary General of the Central Monastic Body, Lopen Gembo Dorji, offering doma-paney became a tradition in 1639, when the construction of Punakha Dzong was completed.
“At the time,” he explains, “Zhabdrung received so many offering from different parts, both within and outside the country. The King of Cooch Bihar offered lots of Doma and Paney as a gift in addition to many other gifts. Considering it as a good omen and very auspicious, Zhabdrung added it in the list of Zhugdrel.”
Since then, he added that it became a tradition to offer during all ceremonies.
Meanwhile, the pan shops are doing brisk business. One of the shopkeepers said that people come in the evening mostly, as it is cold. He gets about 100 customers daily. “In a day I earn about Nu. 600-700, solely by selling domas.”
However, the health risks and expenditure associated with Doma are also not less. It is estimated that at least Nu. 900 million is being spent on doma. And it is true if every single doma-buyer spends about Nu. 30 daily on doma-paney.
