The Gift of the Khata: Bhutan's Sacred Welcome
Understanding the Meaningful Gesture That Greets You Upon Arrival
As you step off your flight at Paro International Airport, you'll likely experience one of Bhutan's most beautiful traditions: the presentation of a khata, a ceremonial silk scarf draped gently around your neck by your guide.
This simple gesture carries profound meaning that encapsulates much of what makes Bhutan special. It's not merely a tourist greeting, but an authentic expression of goodwill, respect, and blessing that Bhutanese people have practiced for centuries.
What Is a Khata?
A khata is a fabric scarf that conveys well wishes and respect, usually made of silk, typically slightly more than two meters in length and a quarter meter in width. The khata symbolizes purity and compassion and is worn or presented with incense at many ceremonial occasions, including births, weddings, funerals, graduations and the arrival or departure of guests.
Your Welcome at the Airport
When given to arriving guests, the khata symbolizes welcome and conveys wishes for happiness, safety, and auspicious fortune during your journey. The giver holds the scarf folded in half lengthwise, symbolizing the interweaving of the giver's and receiver's lives, then bows slightly and presents it with both hands.
When you receive a khata, accept it with both hands and keep it draped around your neck or shoulders for at least a short while—this shows appreciation for the gesture and respect for the tradition.
A Symbol of Bhutan's Heart
Throughout your journey in Bhutan, you'll encounter khatas in many contexts: draped over statues of Buddha, adorning thangka paintings, tied to prayer flags at mountain passes, and exchanged during festivals. The simple act of presenting a khata weaves through Bhutanese life like a thread of kindness and connection.
The khata ceremony at the airport is often visitors' first direct experience of what makes Bhutan different. This small silk scarf, presented with mindfulness and received with gratitude, represents a culture where spiritual values remain paramount and where hospitality flows from genuine Buddhist principles of compassion.
When your guide greets you at Paro Airport with hands outstretched, offering a white khata with a gentle bow, know that you're receiving more than a piece of cloth. You're receiving a blessing, a welcome, and an invitation to experience Bhutan with an open heart.