A kabney (Dzongkha: 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 90 cm × 300 cm (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 wild silk.
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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]