Bhutanese pentapus

I discovered this pentapus on the head of a Brokpa man in Challing village in eastern Bhutan (the Brokpas are a small and distinct ethnic community which lives in the far east of the country). In those parts it is better known as the Brokpa mukhaling. It’s made of densely woven black yak wool (which they also use to make waterproof tents), and is incredibly warm. While the outlandish tentacles go well with the thick red woollen smocks, heavy knee-high handcrafted leather boots and leather vests that the Brokpas wear, their primary purpose is to channel rainwater off the hat and away from the wearer’s face. A bemused Brokpa sold it to me for Rs. 250.