You can see this story depicted in murals all over Bhutan 🇧🇹- on walls, on the back of trucks, as monuments…
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The story of the Four Harmonious Friends is derived from the Jataka Tales of the Buddha. It tells of how the four animals work together to grow a seed into a tree that produces fruit they can all enjoy:
The bird finds a seed and plants it
The rabbit waters it
The monkey fertilizes it
The elephant protects it
The friends work together to reach the fruit
The image is said to represent interdependence and the importance of helping each other. It’s believed that displaying the image can increase harmony among people, and prevent discord and separation between family and friends. It can also serve as a reminder that people’s different strengths and weaknesses can complement each other, allowing them to achieve things they couldn’t accomplish alone.

August 2024