Posts Tagged rajasthan costumes

Kurta – A Fascinating Collarless Upper Wear For Rajasthani Traditional Men

Kurta - Traditional Attire for Rajasthani Men

Kurta - Traditional Attire for Rajasthani Men

Welcome to a glorious riot of color, pomp and pageantry to a lifestyle that is a fanfare of festivals and celebrations. To a specimen of architecture that is grand in style and intricate in design, To a fantasy in color and store.

Welcome to Rajasthan!!

INTRODUCTION

Rajasthani traditional customs vary on the basis of climate and natural fibers grown in the region. “KURTA” the Rajasthani male upper wear is perhaps one of the most fascinating and attractive attire. The word “KURTA ” is a borrowing from Urdu and Hindi and originally from Persian meaning a collarless shirt and was first used in English in 20th century.

VARIETIES OF  RAJASTHANI KURTA

The Kalidhar kurta is made from geometrical pieces. It has two rectangular panels in the back and in the front. Four flared side panels called kali are attached on either side of central panels.

Their shapes is triangular, narrow at the top and wider at the bottom. The sleeves are rectangular, they are cut square at top and the armholes are set somewhat deep. Small triangular gussets are inserted under arms and sleeves taper towards wrists. The neck is round, garment having side pockets. Sometimes buttonholes are made on both side of planchets into which silver or golden buttons are held together by chains.

There is another type of kurta with two panels back and front which bulge out at the bottom.

FABRICS

Kurta worn in summers are usually made of cotton fabrics whereas winter season kurtas are made of thicker material such as khadi silk a thick coarse hand spun silk that may mixed with other fabrics. Nowdays buttons used in kurta are of wood or plastic while in formal occasions decorative metal buttons which are not sewn to the fabric. Such buttons can be decorated with jewels, enameling etc.

A shorter variation of rajasthan kurta is the “julki” both men and women of garasia community wear it.

Image Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/worksheets/diwali_clothes/kurta.jpg

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Rajasthani Clothings – An Introduction To What People From Traditional Rajasthan Wear

Rajasthan Men Clothing - Kurta, Turban & Big Mustache Rajasthan Men Clothing – Kurta, Turban & Big Mustache

Rajasthanis are sturdy classical lot despite their ecological adversities and long feudal history. Nevertheless  no visitor to Rajasthan fail to notice the good physique of average rajasthani male and colourful dress of Rajasthani female.

Rajasthani people has to face all the problems related to water, food and fodder scarcity still people have managed to evolve lifestyle which vibrate with hope, faith and cheerfulness. Vibrant colours and patterns of rajasthanis depict the rajasthani tradition.

An Introduction to Rajasthani Male Clothing

The clothing style of men reflect the style of those lived in olden times. The men clothing is adaption of numerous historical and foreign influences. The lower garment of Rajasthani men is unstitched dhoti or a stitched garment such as pajma which is type of a trouser. The upper garment include bandi and angarakha although today kurta is considered to be traditional wear.

Turban or pagri, pencha, safa etc is the head dress of rajasthani men. The differential pattern of each geographical region is designed to suit climatic influence. There are about 1000 different styles and types of turbans in Rajasthan each denoting class, caste and region of wearer. It comes in all shapes, sizes and colours and there are specific turbans for specific occasion.

White dhotis are in vogue but on special occasion people wear silk dhotis.

Rajasthani Women Attire: An Overview

Traditional Clothing For Rajasthani Women Traditional Clothing For Rajasthani Women

The standard design include ghagra (skirt), odhani (head cloth) and kanchali (long, loose blouse). Odhani is long enough to cover the lower portion, one corner is tucked in the skirt while the other end is taken over the head and right shoulder. Colour and motifs are different according to caste and occasion.

There is one different kind of odhani Pila which is given by parents to daughter during the birth of a son. It is yellow in colour.

Rajasthani daily wear saris, odhani and turbans are often made from the technique of block printing and tie-dye.

Against the backdrop of dusty land, Rajasthani dresses is filled with with eye catching colours, the sparkle of mirror and silver and precious stones. The use of jootes is also common which is worn on feet specially decorated with gold thread and stars. It is said that jewellery also plays distinctive role in costume. An earring or studs, gold chains, silver hansli is the major ornament worn by Rajasthani people.

It is said that “If the cut of costume indicate intellect and talent then the colour indicate temper and heart”

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Turban – Pride of Rajasthan

Young Boy Wearing Pink Turban

Young Boy Wearing Pink Turban

A Very Old Man Wearing Khaki Turban

A Very Old Man Wearing Khaki Turban

Culture and Significance Of Wearing A Turban

The Turbans of Rajasthan are perhaps the most colorful and impressive in the whole of India. Known as safa and pagri also, the turban is a prominent and important part of a Rajput man’s dress.

It is said that turbans were first worn to protect the head from evil spirits.

Turban is ubiquitous head accessory in north India, especially in Rajasthan. Even in the big cities like Jaipur or Udaipur, a man without sporting his turban is not considered to be formally dressed. Turban is also associated with the status of a person as its colour and shape tells one about the person’s caste, religion, region, profession and what position he holds in the society.

Pricely Turban - Rich in Tradition and Color

Pricely Turban - Rich in Tradition and Color

The significance of turban is different in Rajasthan. It is more of a tradition and culture more than religion. It becomes a colourful and vibrant part of their daily attire. It is a common site in villages of Rajasthan when people are seen in vibrant and huge complicated turbans. Turban originated in the Rajput families where it was a ritual for men to wear at any special occasion. Even children were also sported with colourful turbans.

The Dimensions and Impressions – Turban Types, Colors, Designs and Size

Rajasthani turbans can be weaved with as long as 82 feet long and eight inches wide piece of cloth. It is estimated that there are approximately 1000 styles and types of turbans in Rajasthan, so that the style of tying it, can change every 15 kilometers in the countryside. Turban tying also an art that requires significant practice. When a man ties his turban, he twists the fabric across the front of the head to one side as he simultaneously turns the turban around and around his head to achieve a balanced shape as he continues to add more fabric.

Turban - For Warriors in Rajasthan

Turban - For Warriors in Rajasthan

Turbans add brilliant splash of colour and style to monotonous and barren lands. Each colour has its own importance and significance like Ochre is the colour of the mendicant, while the saffron is commonly worn at the time of weddings. In the medieval past, the colour saffron also denoted valour and chivalry. When besieged by an enemy, and food and water supplies were scanty, desperate warriors wearing saffron turbans would sneak out of their citadels to lead sudden surprise attacks on the enemy.

Some turban colours are seasonal to wear like in between February and March, flowers bloom and crops are harvested, it makes the best time for tourists to see the royal Rajasthani men, wearing a falgunia turban having white and red designs. Whereas in the month of July, the predominant colour is motiya or pearl pink. A green and pink striped or yellow and red striped lahariya turban, where the colours are tie dyed in waves, are worn during the time of monsoon. Whereas the Pancharanga is the distinguishing turban in the colourful soil of Rajasthan.

Different Style - Turban - Much Lighter In Weigth

Different Style - Turban - Much Lighter In Weigth

The famous Black Chunari (tie dyed) with the red borders is mainly used at the time of Diwali (festival of lights). The Falgunia Turban, having white and red patterns is wore at the time of Holi (festival of colour). A bright Saffron colour turban for Dassehra festival, held in the month of October. The Mothara turban, with tiny round designs is wore at the time of Raksha Bandhan (festival, when brothers pledge to protect sisters). yellow turban for Basant Panchami (spring festival) and the light pink turban is wore in the month of October, at the time of Sharad Poornima (full moon night). Commonly called a Safa, this beautiful turban is nine meters long and about one meter wide.

Red Turban - Best and The Most Popular

Red Turban - Best and The Most Popular

The city of Jaipur boasts of a turban museum, which claims to have one of the largest collections of turbans.

Turban tying contests are held every year at Pushkar festival and other events organized by the state tourism department.

There is a complete book on Turbans of Rajasthan, I would suggest you to just go through the book as it contains a lot of pictures and designs of various kinds of Turbans.

We have also picked up some turbans from Rajasthan so that you can have the glimpse what Rajasthan Pride is all about.

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