Ritual Hats

BHUTAN

Either round or pointed, these Bhutanese ceremonial hats have rims which are made of fine and delicate wool, supported by iron wire. The surface is composed of silk fabric decorated with woven and embroidered patterns.
The shapes and color of such hats differ according to the school of Buddhism. On the left, there is the red ceremonial hat worn by Nyingma school monks, who are popularly known as the Red Hats. The design originates from the lotus hat worn by Padmasambhava, who traveled to Tibet in the 8th century. The golden and blue ceremonial hats are worn by monks of the Kagyu school.