Women's Clothing in India
Sari
For a single length of material, the sari is the most versatile garment in existence. The sari is only one of the many traditional garments worn by women, yet it has become the national dress of Indian women. A sari is a rectangular piece of cloth which is anywhere from five to six yards in length. It is wrapped to form a skirt and then draped over the shoulder. Additionally, it is worn with a stitched, fitted blouse called a choli. As previously mentioned, the sari is one of the most common and oldest forms of dress for women in India and many regional costumes are variations of the basic style. The style, color and texture of this cloth vary and it might be made from cotton, silk or one of the several man-made materials. Some saris are solid colours, some are patterned, and some are embroidered while others are hand dyed. Others are covered in tiny mirrors or metallic decorations. A woman’s sari is indicative of her status, age, occupation, region or religion.
Ghagra Choli
Ghagra cholis are another type of traditional dress for Indian women. The ghagra is a long pleated skirt which is worn with a long (or short) stitch and fitted blouse, known as the choli. Though these are most often worn in western states, they can be seen all over India. While this pleated skirt is secured at the waist, it leaves the back and midriff bare in most cases. However, a woman’s head will be covered by a length of fine cotton known as orhni or dupatta. Both the ghagra and the choli are beaded or covered with tiny mirrors and are sometimes dyed with detailed patterns. In today’s society, many young women wear modern variations of the traditional ghagra choli for special occasions which have as many as four pieces: the skirt, the choli, a long scarf which is draped over the shoulders or head, and a long sleeveless jacket framing the outfit.
Salwar Kameeze
Another popular attire of women in India is the salwar kameez. This outfit consists of a long tunic called a kameez and loose pants called salwar. This outfit has gone through many variations, depending on the changing fashions. Sometimes the salwar are loose and baggy, only gathered at the ankles. Other styles however are closely fitted and similar to leggings. The kameez can also vary: some a long and flared while others are short and straight. This style of Indian dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Women in India today often wear some version of the salwar kameeze especially when relaxing at home, since this outfit is very comfortable and practical for everyday use.