Kabney

A kabney (Dzongkha: བཀབ་ནེ་, Wylie: bkab-ne) is a silk sash 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]

• Saffron sash for the Druk Gyalpo (king) and the Je Khenpo (chief abbot).
• Orange sash for Lyonpos (ministers and other members of the government).^[2]
• Red sash 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 sash for judges.
• Blue scarf for members of parliament.^[8]
• White sash without fringes for Secretary of various Ministries and Zimpoen to His Majesty The King. Also awarded to distinguished individuals for various achievements and contributions. ^[9]
• White sash with red stripes for Gups (headmen of the 205 gewogs).^[10]
• White scarf for ordinary citizens.^[11]

Former sash ranks include:

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