IAM - Folklorama Magazine 2008 - Indian Association of Manitoba

or bindi. Traditionally round, the bindi is now available in various colours, shapes and sizes.
Today it is for the most part an adornment. Vermilion or sindoor applied at the parting of the
hair indicates a married woman.
A traditional Indian woman is rarely seen without jewellery. A mangal-sutra, a necklace made
with black and gold beads is considered sacred, and in many areas is always worn by a married
woman. Many women, particularly in the rural areas of Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat
wear ornately crafted nose-rings. Gold, silver or colourful glass bangles are another favourite,
dating from the tradition of never having your hands bare. Women in Rajasthan wear bangles
that go all the way to their shoulders. Indian women generally have their ears pierced, and
commonly sport ear-rings.
MEN are considerably less traditional when it comes to dressing. In urban areas, they have
adapted to a western style of dressing. In villages men generally wear kurtas, a knee length
shirt-styled tunic, with lungis, dhotis or pyjamas. The lungi originated in the south but is now
worn all over india. It is a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. A dhoti is longer than a lungi,
has sari style pleats and is draped through the legs. In states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab
and Maharashtra men wear a safa or turban on their heads. Elsewhere too, various kinds of
topis are It is a long scarf which is wound round the head in different ways. The Pathani suit is
very similar to the salwar-kameez and is generally worn by men in north India. The Achkan is
a long collarless jacket worn over a churidar for formal occasions.
Ravinder Buttar
Style India Bollywood Collections
102 Mandalay Drive Winnipeg MB
Phone: (204) 632-9999