I have thought so many times that I should post a blog about the way people dress here in India... this blog is waaaaayyyyy overdue. Oh, where to start?? It is so diverse, that describing it is more difficult than probably any other culture in the world! If you take a snapshot of a crowded street anywhere here in Bangalore, you see people from all walks of life, each with his/her own style. It is an almost even mix of barefoot vs. shoes, saree vs. jeans with kurtas, chinos vs. dhotis (aka the "man skirt"). All moving together in perfect harmony. Many people holding to centuries old traditional garb, many people having been completely "westernized" - maybe wearing a DKNY tee and Calvin Klein Jeans!! Can you imagine walking down 5th Avenue in NYC and seeing this...
and this...
and this...
all together, and thinking it was completely normal?? This is as close as I can relate the variety we see here in India.
The kids, in theirs...
A kurta is also a traditional item of clothing. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by both men and women. They were traditionally worn with loose-fitting paijama (kurta-paijama), loose- salwars, tight-fitting churidars, or wrapped-around dhotis but are now also worn with jeans. Kurtas are worn both as casual everyday wear and as formal dress. A kurta is also referred to as a panjabi.
Not only can they work in their saris... but they also ride scooters in them!! I am always amazed that the fabric does not get caught up in the wheels...
Last, but certainly not least...lets talk about what I call the "man skirt"... the dhoti. The dhoti, known as a panche here in Bangalore is a traditional garment of men's wear in India. It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 7 yards long, wrapped around the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist.
In northern India, the garment is worn with a Kurta on top, the combination known simply as "dhoti kurta", or a dhuti panjabi in the East. Here in Bangalore, we see it most often worn simply with a dress shirt! The lungi is a similar piece of cloth worn in similar manner, though only on informal occasions. The lungi is not as long and is basically a bigger version of a towel worn to fight the extremely hot weather in India.
and this...and this...all together, and thinking it was completely normal?? This is as close as I can relate the variety we see here in India.Salwar kameez is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in South Asia. Salvars or shalvars are loose pajama-like trousers. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the bottom. The kameez is a long shirt or tunic. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement. In Afghanistan and , Pakistan and India, the garment is worn by both sexes.
When women wear the salwar kameez, they usually wear a long scarf or shawl called a dupatta around the head or neck. Here's Mom in one of her new "I am going to the Taj Mahal" salwar kameez outfits... I must say, she looks like a natural!!
The kids, in theirs...
A kurta is also a traditional item of clothing. It is a loose shirt falling either just above or somewhere below the knees of the wearer, and is worn by both men and women. They were traditionally worn with loose-fitting paijama (kurta-paijama), loose- salwars, tight-fitting churidars, or wrapped-around dhotis but are now also worn with jeans. Kurtas are worn both as casual everyday wear and as formal dress. A kurta is also referred to as a panjabi.Pat had his made down on Commercial Street... as you can imagine, India does not carry a big selection of "Pat sized" attire!!
Of course, the article of clothing most associated with India is the sari. A sari or saree or shari is a female garment in the Indian subcontinent and Pakistan. A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff. The sari is usually worn over a petticoat (pavada/pavadai in the south, and shaya in eastern India), with a blouse known as a choli or ravika forming the upper garment. The choli has short sleeves and a low neck and is usually cropped, and as such is particularly well-suited for wear in the sultry South Asian summers. How the sari actually stays together is a mystery to me. I have had our maid Sheela show me how it all works several times, and I still have no clue! The house maids here wear them almost exclusively. Bright colors and beautiful fabrics... jasmine flowers tied neatly in their perfectly braided hair - all this to come and clean a house?!?!? Yes, it is all about the tradition.
Not only can they work in their saris... but they also ride scooters in them!! I am always amazed that the fabric does not get caught up in the wheels... Last, but certainly not least...lets talk about what I call the "man skirt"... the dhoti. The dhoti, known as a panche here in Bangalore is a traditional garment of men's wear in India. It is a rectangular piece of unstitched cloth, usually around 7 yards long, wrapped around the waist and the legs, and knotted at the waist.In northern India, the garment is worn with a Kurta on top, the combination known simply as "dhoti kurta", or a dhuti panjabi in the East. Here in Bangalore, we see it most often worn simply with a dress shirt! The lungi is a similar piece of cloth worn in similar manner, though only on informal occasions. The lungi is not as long and is basically a bigger version of a towel worn to fight the extremely hot weather in India.
So this is a good overview covering at least the basics of fashion in India. You really can't go wrong... trust me, you see it ALL!!!
2 comments:
Hey cindy, I love your blog.I am very impressed with your writing and smooth story telling abilities. Your photo's are also great. I'm not trying to brown nose,but I have always been a suc ker for a good looking blond.
donpatnode@sbcglobal.net
OMG you all look amazing! But I must say someone is missing from the pics? Oh Cyn... where are you in your India attire??? Aunt Carol does look like a natural! Hope all is well.
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