Kabney Explained

A kabney (Dzongkha: [[wikt:བཀབ་ནེ|བཀབ་ནེ་]], Wylie: bkab-ne) is a silk scarf worn as a part of the gho, the traditional male attire in Bhutan.^[1] It is raw silk, normally 90x 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 wild silk.

The use of gho and kabney is encouraged in Bhutan as a part of driglam namzha (or driklam namzhak), the official code of etiquette and dress code of Bhutan. Gho is 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 and social class of the bearer determines the permissible color 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] The red scarf can also be conferred upon Bhutanese civilian, as it is one of highest honors a Bhutanese civilian can receive, and comes directly from the throne in recognition of an individual's outstanding service to the nation.^[7]
• Green scarf for judges.
• Blue scarf for members of parliament.^[8]
• White scarf with red stripes for Gups (headmen of the 205 gewogs).^[9]
• White scarf for ordinary citizens.^[10]

Former scarf ranks include:

• White scarf with blue stripes for Chimi (members of the National Assembly). This is now used for Thrompoens, the head of Thromde.
• Blue scarf for Lodoe Tsoggde (members of the Royal Advisory Council, now defunct).^[2]

Notes and References

1. Gyurme Dorje. Footprint Bhutan. Footprint, [2004]. . Section "National dress", p 261
2. http://yesheydorji.blogspot.no/2013/05/kabney-patang.html Kabney & Patang
3. http://www.bhutanmajestictravel.com/news/2008/the-bhutanese-ladies-scarf-or-rachu-should-be-worn-hanging-from-the-left-shoulder.html Bhutan Majestic Travel
4. http://bhutanobserver.bt/4668-bo-news-about-kabney_colour_mania.aspx Kabney colour mania
5. https://auwrw2011.wordpress.com/2011/06/17/the-symbolism-of-kabney-in-bhutan/ The Symbolism of Kabney and Rachu in Bhutan
6. http://www.ble.bt/index.php/bhutanese-society-and-dress Bhutanese Society and Dress
7. Web site: Four individuals conferred Bura Maap - BBS . Bbs.bt . 17 December 2012 . October 15, 2020.
8. http://www.bhutanmajestictravel.com/news/2007/blue-kabney-scarf-for-members-of-parliament.html Blue Kabney (Scarf) for members of parliament
9. http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=5493 His Majesty grants dhar and kabney to the Gups
10. http://bhutanobserver.bt/7176-bo-news-about-time_for_the_white_kabney.aspx Time for the white kabney