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To the
foreign traveller, one of the powerful attractions in India is
the colourful and diversified attire of its people. The silk saris,
brightly mirrored cholis,
colorful lehangas
and the traditional salwar-kameez
have fascinated many a traveler over the centuries.
For
a single length of material, the sari must be the most versatile
garment in existence. It is only one of the many traditional garments
worn by women, yet it has somehow become the national dress of Indian
women. A sari is a rectangular piece of cloth which is five
to six yards in length. The style, color and texture of this cloth
varies and it might be made from cotton, silk or one of the several
man-made materials. The sari has an ageless charm since it
is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This garment can fit
any size and if worn properly can accentuate or conceal. This supremely
graceful attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner
of wearing as well as its color and texture are indicative of the
status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. |
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The
tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is a choli.
The choli evolved as a form of clothing in 10th century
AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back
was always bare. Bodices of this type are still common in the
state of Rajasthan.
Apart
from the choli, women in Rajasthan wear a form of pleated
skirt known as the ghagra or lehanga. This skirt
is secured at the waist and leaves the back and midriff bare.
The heads are however covered by a length of fine cotton known
as orhni or dupatta.
Another
popular attire of women in India is the salwar-kameez.
This dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for
women in Kashmir and Punjab, but is now immensely popular in all
regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn
tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars,
women wear a long and loose tunic known as a kameez. One
might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar
instead of a
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salwar. A churidar
is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and
ankles. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar tunic
called a kurta.
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Though
the majority of Indian women wear traditional costumes, the men
in India can be found in more conventional western clothing. Shirts
and trousers are worn by men from all regions in India. However,
men in villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire
like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas.
The traditional
lungi originated in the south and today it is worn by men
and women alike. It is simply a short length of material worn
around the thighs rather like a sarong. A dhoti is a longer
lungi but with an additional length of material pulled up between
the legs. Pyjama-like trousers worn by the villagers are known
as the lenga.
Indian
dressing styles are marked by many variations, both religious
and regional and one is likely to witness a plethora of colors,
textures and styles in garments worn by the Indians.
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