The national dress — gho for men and kira for women — is mandated by Driglam Namzha in official settings and is one of the most visible expressions of Bhutanese cultural identity.
Bhutan's national dress — the gho for men and the kira for women — is among the most visible expressions of Bhutanese cultural identity. Wearing traditional dress is mandated by the Driglam Namzha code of etiquette in government offices, schools, dzongs, and all official events.[1]
The Gho
The gho is a knee-length robe for men, tied at the waist with a cloth belt called a kera. The robe is folded in such a way as to form a large pocket (hem) at the front, traditionally used to carry items. In the Zhabdrung's time, the gho was mandatory only for members of the elite, but it was gradually adopted by the wider male population and made compulsory in 1989.[1]
The Kira
Women wear a long-sleeved blouse called a wonju made of silk, polyester, or lightweight cotton, over which they fold and clasp a large rectangular cloth called a kira to create an ankle-length dress.[2] The kira is secured with a brooch (koma) at each shoulder and a woven belt (kera) at the waist. Over the kira, a short jacket called a tego is worn.[2]
Ceremonial Scarves
Kabney (Men)
Men wear a kabney, a large silk scarf draped from the left shoulder to the opposite hip. The colour of the kabney indicates the wearer's rank:[1]
- Saffron: reserved for the Druk Gyalpo (King) and the Je Khenpo (Chief Abbot)
- Orange: Lyonpos (ministers and senior government officials)
- Red: Dashos (high officials and male members of the royal family)
- Green: judges
- Blue: National Council members
- White: commoners (raw silk with fringes)
Rachu (Women)
Women wear a rachu, a narrow embroidered cloth draped over the left shoulder. Unlike the kabney, the rachu is the same for all women regardless of rank, typically woven from raw silk with rich decorative patterns.[2]
Legal Mandate
The 1989 royal decree elevating the dress code from recommended to mandatory remains in effect. Bhutanese citizens must wear the gho or kira in schools, government offices, during festivals, and on formal occasions.[1] The dress code is seen as essential to maintaining a distinct national identity and differentiating Bhutan from its larger neighbours.[3]
See also
- Lhotshampa Traditional Dress
- National Museum of Bhutan
- National Library and Archives of Bhutan
- Blue Poppy
- Raven as Bhutan's National Bird
References
- "Clothes in Bhutan: The Gho, Kira, Kabney, Rachu." Facts and Details.
- "Gho and Kira, the traditional dress of Bhutan." Taste of Bhutan.
- "Undercover Identity." Works That Work Magazine.
- "Bhutanese Men's Garment (Gho)." Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.
- "Traditional costumes and the evolution of kira." Daily Bhutan.
See also
National Museum of Bhutan
The National Museum of Bhutan, housed in the historic Ta Dzong watchtower above Paro Dzong, is the country's principal repository of cultural and historical artefacts. Founded in 1968, it holds over 3,000 objects spanning religious thangkas, armour, natural history specimens, textiles, and coins, and suffered significant damage in the 2011 earthquake before a careful restoration returned it to public use.
culture·4 min readNational Library and Archives of Bhutan
The National Library and Archives of Bhutan, established in 1967 in Thimphu, is the primary repository for the kingdom's published works, manuscripts, and official records. It houses one of the largest collections of Dzongkha-language texts in the world and preserves thousands of rare religious manuscripts on traditional Bhutanese paper.
culture·4 min readRaven as Bhutan's National Bird
The common raven (Corvus corax tibetanus) is the national bird of Bhutan and the religious emblem of the Bhutanese monarchy. Its iconography is rooted in the protector deity Gonpo Jarog Dongchen, the raven-headed form of Mahakala, and it crowns the Druk Gyalpo's ceremonial Raven Crown.
culture·6 min readNational Institute of Zorig Chusum
The National Institute of Zorig Chusum (NIZC) is a government-run art school in Thimphu, Bhutan, established in 1971 to preserve and transmit the thirteen traditional arts and crafts of Bhutan. The institute offers four-to-six-year programmes in painting, sculpture, wood carving, embroidery, and other disciplines, and is the primary institutional mechanism for ensuring the survival of Bhutanese artistic traditions.
culture·7 min readFolk Heritage Museum, Thimphu
The Folk Heritage Museum in Thimphu, opened in 2001, preserves and displays the everyday material culture of rural Bhutan through a restored farmhouse and an extensive collection of agricultural and domestic implements. It provides an immersive encounter with traditional Bhutanese living conditions and craft practices, increasingly rare as modernisation transforms rural life.
culture·4 min readBlack-Necked Crane Festival
The Black-Necked Crane Festival is an annual conservation and cultural festival held in November in the Phobjikha Valley of central Bhutan, celebrating the arrival of endangered black-necked cranes that migrate from the Tibetan Plateau to winter in the valley. The festival combines environmental education, traditional dance, and community celebration.
culture·6 min read
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