Lezim dance, Marathi folk music, literature, food and various festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi make Maharashtra a great state not only in size but also in culture. When we talk about Maharashtra and its people, images of local Maharashtrians in traditional dress immediately come to mind. Maharashtra traditional clothes or outfits are very realistic and practical in their approach.
The occupation of the majority of the people of Maharashtra is agriculture. The inhabitants of the Konkan Coast – Konkanis are engaged in fishing.
Both of these activities are labor intensive. People had to work hours in the sun and move from place to place. Thus, the clothes they wear make it easier for them. In many Indian cultures, women do not go out to work. However, in Maharashtra, some people participate in various outdoor activities and even help in agricultural activities and like men prefer to wear clothes that allow them to move freely and feel comfortable.
Here are the traditional Maharashtra clothes worn by men:
Maharashtrian Attire For Men
Dhoti
Maharashtra men usually wear a belt. A dhoti is a piece of cloth tied at the waist, which covers the entire leg up to the ankle. Dhotis sews five stitches on each side, then tucks the free end into the back. Dhotis are usually saffron, cream or white. Dhotis are an unsewn garment that does not require any proper measurement as one can adjust the tightness or looseness according to one’s needs.
Maharashtrians generally have the same style for everything – work or celebrations. That’s why their clothes are made to be comfortable. Nagpur is a city in the state of Maharashtra known for its belt
Pehta
The Pehta is a head covering worn by Marathi men. It is a “topi”, or scarf generally made of cotton. Pehta, also known as pagris, are small hats used to cover the head to protect it from direct sunlight.
It is particularly worn by travelers and those who work outdoors and in the sun. By shielding themselves from direct sunlight, the individual does not feel exhausted or fatigued as quickly or easily.
Kurta / shirt
Maharashtrian men usually wear cotton tops or kurtas over their loincloths. The tops are made of cotton so that the clothes absorb sweat as the conditions in Maharashtra are hot to hot. These tops are thin and loose and usually white.
Vest
Maharashtra men occasionally wear a vest called a bandi. Bandi is a sleeveless jacket or coat. They are worn on shirts. Bandi makes Maharashtra attire more formal and appropriate. The bandis are more pragmatic given the climate of Maharashtra, as the excessive heat does not allow men to wear normal coats or overcoats.
Shoes
Men usually wear simple but sturdy shoes. Their shoes are open sandals, very comfortable to wear. The sandals are sturdy and made of leather.
The traditional or cultural dresses worn by women are as follows:
Maharashtra women’s clothing
Saris
Women wear 9 meter long sarees. The sari is tucked in the middle and looks like a loincloth.
The rest of the saree is wrapped around the woman’s upper body. This type of saree is commonly known as Lugade. There are many variations in the way women wear sarees. Some people only wear knee-length sarees. Some wear skirts without pleats in the middle.
But the size 9 saree is a traditional outfit for Maharashtra women.
Women wearing dresses Nauvari, Marathi
Head coverings/head coverings
Women do not have separate head coverings like men. They just cover their heads with the ends of the saree.
Choli
Maharashtra women wear choli or blouses under sarees. It is the “top” or shirt they use to cover their upper body.
The choli covers half of the torso. The shirt is short or half sleeve
with hooks in the front for women’s comfort. Similar to men’s clothing, women’s clothing is also made of cotton and sometimes silk. Common colors of Maharashtrian sarees are green and red and sometimes even Kesari (yellow) color.
Jewelry
Women wear nath i.
e. Nose Piercing Naths can be simple loops or loops with both ends attached to earrings. They are usually gold. There are also women wearing other gold jewelry such as earrings and necklaces (hair) with gemstones of different colors.
Married women wear mangal sutras and green bracelets. Brides wear green bracelets, believed to bring prosperity to marriages and families. Some women even wear toe rings on the second toe of both feet (because the second toe would have a nerve that connects to the uterus and elements of the ring would reinforce the uterus).
Footwear
Women have traditionally preferred bare feet and have found it natural to go barefoot, sometimes in sandals. Footwear in Maharashtra is known to be durable and long lasting.
Kolhapuri chappals are open toe T-strap sandals handmade by Maharashtrians from leather and tanned with vegetable dyes. The Kolhapuri chappal hails from the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra and is world renowned for its strength and endurance. Maharashtrians seem to wear the same style of dress for everything, whether it is resting, attending a wedding or traveling. The only difference is the material. Cotton is used to make clothes for various occasions and is cheap while silk is relatively expensive and used to make clothes for weddings, festivals, etc.
Now, due to urbanization, most Maharashtrians have adapted to western style clothing and even mixed Indian and western styles (Kurta and pants). But older people still prefer to wear this traditional style and feel comfortable.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu Traditional Dress – Clothing Styles and Culture!
Located in India’s southernmost state, Tamil Nadu is a state known for its lavish temples, delicious cuisine and rich culture. An important aspect of Tamil Nadu’s rich culture is its traditional attire, which symbolizes the cultural essence of this southern Indian state.
Tamil Nadu dresses use a variety of materials such as cotton, chiffon, silk, crepe, organza, georgette, microfilament and patola. Let us know more about Tamil Nadu dress.
Women’s traditional costume
Saris have a great importance in women’s traditional costume in Tamil Nadu. The popular Tamil poem Cilappatikaram depicts women wearing sarees. Sarees are dresses worn by women for offices, temples, parties and weddings.
South Indian sarees are famous across India for their intricate craftsmanship. Kancheepuram sarees are known for their beautiful styles. Kanchipuram sarees are quite different from North Indian sarees in terms of color, texture and style. The length of the sarees usually ranges from five to six meters.
Pavada is the dress worn by Brahmin girls before getting married.
This half saree dress is a combination of a long skirt with a short blouse and a shawl called Davani. It is a symbol of youth and beauty among Tamil girls.
Salwar Kameez is also popular among Tamil Nadu women these days. Salwar is loose trousers and a long tunic known as kurti or kameez.
Traditional costume for men
The traditional costume of Tamil men is as elegant as that of women.
Lungi is the most common undergarment for men in Tamil Nadu. It wraps around the waist and thighs. Lungi is available in different colors. It is the traditional attire that men also wear in marriage. This rectangular piece of fabric is usually cotton.
It is mainly worn with shirts or Angavastra. Angavastram is another important ingredient in Tamil dressing. It is a piece of cloth wrapped around the shoulder. Previously Angavastram was used as a top and now it is used on shirts.
Traditional Accessories
Traditional clothing for men and women of Tamil Nadu is not complete without gold accessories such as necklaces, necklaces, bracelets, maang-tika and earrings.
Tamils love gold and are known to have a lot of gold jewelry. Apart from jewellery, women in Tamil Nadu like to adorn their hair with garlands of flowers called Gajras.
To complete the look, men apply Vibhuti with Sandal Balm to forehead, while women apply Kum-Kum to hands, feet and forehead.
The traditional dress of Tamil Nadu is world famous for its elegance and beauty. In modern times, jeans, t-shirts, shirts, skirts and tops have also been incorporated into the dress code of Tamil Nadu.
However, Tamils still prefer their traditional dress when it comes to festivals or celebrations.
State of Kerala
Kerala Traditional Garments – Kerala Traditional Garments and Garments
The state’s traditional garments are called ‘Mundu’ and are worn on the lower body from the waist to the feet. It is white and can be worn by both men and women. It looks like a long skirt or a belt. Tops vary by gender and age.
This garment is worn in Kerala, the Tulunadu region and the Maldives Islands. Muslim women, on the other hand, sometimes prefer black or blue boudoirs, while traditional Christian women wear two-piece, pleated “Mundu” shirts.
When you visit Kerala, you see men and women dressed all in white. It represents purity and elegance. Their warm nature, friendly attitude and simple life welcome everyone from all over the world.
Traditional Kerala Men’s Clothing – Mundu or Lungi
Bottoms A Mundu is a white cloth wrapped around the waist. It has a border called Kara, which can be any color, mostly gold. Kara stylizes the Mundu by displaying it to the left or right of the person. Kara can be embroidered or embellished for special occasions. Tuck the bottom of the Mundu in the middle to turn it into a skirt.
Men prefer to do it while engaging in physical activity. The tunic is called ‘Melmundu’ and is draped over the shoulders like a towel. Many men also wear white shirts.
In Hinduism, men wear Mundu and Jubba on special occasions. It can be silk, and the kara is usually embroidered.
Muslim men wear a hat called Kulla to distinguish them from Hindus. Muslims may wear shirts and Mundu and sometimes Sherwani or Kurta which are heavily embroidered. A Christian can wear a shirt and a mundu at his wedding, or a suit or a jacket. The latter is now preferred.
Kerala Women’s Traditional Costume – Mundum Neriyathum
The women’s traditional costume is called ‘Mundum-Neriyathum’.
It consists of several similar Mundus. One of them is worn on the lower part of the body around the hips and up to the ankles. The other is worn on the upper body with a matching blouse, one end is tucked in below the waist and the other end hangs from the back across the shoulders to the floor like a saree.
Hindu women may wear Mundu or Saree depending on the occasion and custom. For weddings, they prefer Kanchipuram Saree which is made of silk with zardosi or Kundan designs on it.
Dark colors are preferred, but white and black are avoided. Muslim women wear sarees or lehengas in their wedding veils with lots of embroidery and golden zari. Sometimes according to custom, a deep boudoir is used to cover the face. Among Christians, they wear a white sari and white shirts, an all-white outfit. These days they have started wearing white dresses with veils.
It is evident that the people of this South Indian state wear very simple clothes. White is their favorite color because it represents purity, elegance and simplicity. The beautiful embroidery and Kara pattern of
is enough to make it an occasion dress for them. Although the basic Kerala attire is very simple, it can be worn and styled according to different occasions like weddings, family functions, regional festivals like Onam and Vishu. Kara can be beautifully designed, Mundus can be made of silk in different women’s styles, and shirts can be woven or embroidered in a specific way.
It varies from community to community, from religion to religion.
Today, western culture has a general influence on people and unlike other parts of India, people have started wearing western clothes like shirts, jeans, skirts, dresses, etc. . But when celebrating any religious event, wedding or any other event, they make sure that tradition is followed and people wear only traditional clothes. The people of Kerala still retain this culture.
Karnataka.
Karnataka is known for its rich culture, delicious cuisine, dance forms, arts, music and traditional clothing.
Its heritage, multilingualism and history have greatly influenced its cuisine, unique art forms and the way people dress.
Clothing worn by men and women of Karnataka is popular not only in India but all over the world. Here is everything you need to know about traditional clothing for men and women of Karnataka.
Traditional Karnataka Men’s Dress:
Traditional Karnataka Men’s Dress includes Kurta and Lungi.
Kurta is a knee length shirt. It is paired with a Lungi or Dhoti, which are baggy pants that wrap around the legs and tie at the waist.
The whole figure is adorned with the Angavatram, a piece of cloth worn above the shoulders to cover the upper part of the body.
Men in Karnataka wear or don’t wear kurtas.
Special occasion clothing:
Source: https://www.
utsavfashionindia.com
On special occasions, men wear a panche, a white loincloth. It is associated with traditional kurtas and Angavastram.
This complete outfit is a wonderful cultural outfit for the men of Karnataka.
Kodagu District Traditional Costume: The people of
Kodagu have a unique style of dress and accessories.
The men adorned their clothes with decorative belts, swords and daggers. The general look of
is paired with a black dress or tunic for a regal look. Men also wear golden turbans for festivals, weddings and special occasions.
Karnataka Women’s Traditional Dress:
Karnataka women wear silk sarees meticulously woven by artisans. Sarees are made from a variety of materials such as traditional Mysore or Bangalore silk and cotton.
These sarees are not only popular in Karnataka but also famous in India. Every Indian woman at some point in her life wants to buy a traditional Kanchipuram saree.
While Kanchipuram (Karnataka cultural dress) sarees come in a variety of styles, patterns and color combinations, traditional sarees come in red, pink, cream, red and white.
Kanchipuram or Kanjeevaram saree from Karnataka is beautifully designed with very smooth and rich texture. Handcrafted by artisans, these sarees are dyed and then embellished with Zari craftsmanship, giving them a rich South Indian culture.
Zari’s creations are finished with pure silk thread and fine silver thread and gilded with pure gold. Zari brings a shimmering sheen to sarees.
