Posts Tagged rajasthani culture

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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Gair Dance of Rajasthan – An Inevitable Part of Rajasthani Culture

Gair is one of the most beautiful dances of Rajasthan. There are several variations to perform this picturesque dance, which is performed by both the men and women of Rajasthan.

Gair Dance of Rajasthan

Gair Dance of Rajasthan

Gair basically means circle or round. It is performed in a circle and that is how it has got its name.

Dance Attractions

The Bhil folk perform this dance by wearing colorful dresses and carrying swords, arrows and sticks.

The men wear long, pleated tunics that are open out into the full-length skirts. Firstly they move clockwise and then in anti-clockwise direction, with the tempo of striking sticks, so as to create the rhythm at the time of turning.

It is believed by the locals that this dance must have got some significance to war.

Swinging With the Beat

The sticks used in the dance are called Khanda. These sticks are very attractive and catches every eye. The sticks play vital role in the dance. They are very thin and does not carry much of weight and give a flare look.

The striking of the sticks gives the dance a vigorous character & a consistent tempo.

Sometimes, it is performed exclusively by men folk. At that time, a series of half-swirls make up a simpler version of the dance. Depending on the dancer’s ability & proficiency, it is danced with a series of intricate pattern steps.

Famous Dance  of  Bhil Community of Rajasthan

This dance is famous and performed mostly by all the communities but it is more famous of Bhil Community which is performed at the festival of Holi.  Some of its variations are the Dandi Gair found in the Marwar region and Geendad found in the Sehkhawati region of Rajasthan.

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