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.
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]
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]