Bhutan - National Dress

One of the four pillars of GNH is preservation of the unique Bhutanese cultural identity. Law requires that all Bhutanese wear the national costume in public.

Dress for women is a kira, a large rectangular piece of woven material wrapped about the body and secured at the shoulders and waist. An inner blouse called a wonju and an outer jacket called a tyoko complete the kira. Beautiful pins secure the tyoko and adorn the kira at the shoulders.

The outfit for men is called a gho. It too is a one piece outfit and, like the kira, appears to be a most complicated affair to actually get oneself wrapped into. A gho is somewhat like a large, large kimono that is secured at the waist and pulled up to the knees. Once it is fastened at the waist it forms " the world's largest pocket" - handy for all sorts of things including the little round box for carrying doma ( betel nut wrapped in a paan leaf with lime paste). All men wear knee socks with the gho. The white scarf seen above is required for formal occassions.

The men picture above were waiting for appointments in front of an administrative office in the Paro Dzong. All such appointments are considered formal.