tibetanas

Tibetanas is the feminine plural form of tibetano in Spanish and is used to refer to women from Tibet or women who belong to Tibetan communities. The term appears in cultural, historical and ethnographic contexts.

Geography and population: Tibet lies on the Tibetan Plateau in Asia. The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) of the People's Republic of China covers most of the plateau; Tibetan populations also live in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan. The global Tibetan population is estimated at around 6 million, with a significant diaspora in India (for example, Dharamsala, seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile), Nepal, Bhutan, and Western countries.

Language: The Tibetic languages form a branch of the Sino-Tibetan family. Standard Tibetan, based on the Lhasa dialect, is widely used in education, media and literature in Tibetan communities. Tibetan script is used to write these languages, and oral traditions include poetry, songs and ritual recitation.

Culture and religion: Tibetan culture encompasses Buddhist philosophy and ritual; the majority of Tibetans practice Tibetan Buddhism, with monasteries and monastic institutions. Bon is an earlier indigenous tradition. Cultural expressions include festivals such as Losar (New Year) and Monlam; traditional dress such as the chuba; crafts including thangka painting; and cuisine featuring momos, tsampa and butter tea.

Diaspora and modern life: Tibetan women participate in education, arts, business and community life within diaspora communities and in Tibet’s wider society. Efforts to preserve language, culture and religious practices continue through schools, monasteries and cultural associations.