Kabney

A kabney (Dzongkha: བཀབ་ནེ་; Wylie: bkab-ne) is a silk scarf worn as a part of the gho, the traditional male costume in Bhutan.[1] It is raw silk, normally 90 by 300 centimetres (35 in × 118 in) with fringes. Kabney is worn over the traditional coat gho; it runs from the left shoulder to the right hip, and is worn at special occasions or when visiting a dzong. Kabney is also referred as Bura which means silk.

Ruling king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck with Saffron-coloured kabney.

Gho with orange kabney.

The use of gho and kabney is encouraged in Bhutan as a part of driglam namzha (or driklam namzhak), the official behaviour and dress code of Bhutan. Gho is thus compulsory for schoolboys and government officials.[1][2] The female traditional dress is called kira. A rachu is worn over the traditional dress kira.[1][3]

The rank of the bearer determines the colour of the scarf:[4][2][5][6]

• Saffron scarf for the Druk Gyalpo (king) and the Je Khenpo (chief abbot).
• Orange scarf for Lyonpos (ministers and other members of the government).[2]
• Red scarf for Dashos (male members of the royal family and higher officials).[2]
• Green scarf for judges.
• Blue scarf for members of parliament s].[7]
• White scarf with red stripes for Gups (headmen of the 205 gewogs).[8]
• White scarf for ordinary citizens.[9]

Former scarf ranks include:

• White scarf with blue stripes for Chimi (members of the National Assembly).
• Blue scarf for lodoe Tsoggde.