indian dresses essay

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Indian Traditional Dress — What do Indian Women and Men Wear

History of indian dress, saree – a symbol of india.

• Indian Traditional Dress for Women

Indian Modern Female Attire

• Indian Traditional Clothing for Men

Indian Wedding Dresses

Where to buy quality traditional indian clothing.

Despite globalization, India has managed to preserve its traditional dresses, a fundamental part of its culture. Even if there are dozens of traditional dresses worn both by women and men, there are some items that are widely recognized everywhere: everybody knows about the saree, dhot, and dastar .

The saree, worn by women, is a long dress that covers the right shoulder and leaves the midriff bare, while the dhoti is worn mostly by men, is a long piece of cloth wrapped around the legs and knotted to the waist. Last but not least, and maybe one of the most recognizable items of Indian attires, is the dastar, the turban mostly worn by Sikh.

Keep reading our article to learn more about India traditional dresses.

• The Indian textile industry is incredibly old, and some of its ancient techniques are still used today
• There are many different traditional clothes worn by men and women
• For women, the most famous traditional dress is undoubtedly the saree
• For men, instead, the national dress is dhoti
• Another characteristic Indian item, widely recognized all over the world, is the dastar, the turban worn by Sikhs

The history of Indian dress dates back to the 5th millennium BC, with the Indus Valley civilization that used to spin, weave and dye cotton . The cotton industry was extremely advanced, and some of the techniques used in the past still survive today.

During the Maurya and the Gupta period, people used to wear both stitched and non-stitched clothes, and the main item was the anariya made of white cotton and tied to the waist by a sash. With time, the new trade routes expanded the textile industry of the subcontinent. The Romans bought indigo for dyeing, and trades with China introduced silk textiles.

In ancient times – and still today – silk and cotton were woven into various designs peculiar to each different region. The Mughal greatly helped India to develop its textile techniques, and dyeing of clothes became a sort of art, and mordant dyeing, resist dyeing and Kalamkari techniques became predominant.

Textiles have always been an important part of Indian trading. India used to trade with China, Southeast Asia, the Roman Empire, the Arabs, and, during the 17th century, also Europe, in a lucrative exchange of spices and clothing. Printed calicos, chintz, muslins, and patterned silk invaded the English market, and, later on, became a source of pride for the nationalist movement.

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The saree (also sari or shari) is the most representative traditional clothing of the Indian subcontinent. It consists of a drape that can be from 4.5 meters to 8 meters long, and about 1 meter wide.

It is usually wrapped around the waist, with one end covering one shoulder and baring the midriff.

As you can read below, there are many different styles, but in most cases, the saree is worn along with a choli and a petticoat, called parkar.

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Origins of Saree

The origins of the saree date back to the Indus Valley Civilization, around 2000 BC . The word saree is an evolution of the world sattika, that in earliest Buddhist literature indicate women's attire.

Originally, it was a three-piece ensemble – a lower garment, a veil, and a chest-band – known as poshak. With time, these three pieces merged to form a single garment, the saree.

Some Indian state that the midriff should never be left exposed, an ancient Indian tradition affirms that the navel of the Supreme Being is the source of life and creativity, and this is why the sari leaves the midriff bare.

For wedding sarees, red is the most common color . Women wear various types of regional handloom sarees made of silk, ikkat, cotton, block-print and tie-dye textiles.

Styles of draping

A saree can be worn in more than 80 different ways . As said, the most common style sees the saree wrapped around the waist, with the loose end worn over the shoulder, and baring the midriff. Some styles require a particular length or form.

Sari drapes can be categorized in the following principal families:

• Nivi: the pleats are passed through the legs and tucked into the waist at the back. It is the style originally worn in Andhra Pradesh.
• Bengali style: there are no pleats. The saree is wrapped anti-clockwise around the waist, and then another time from the other direction. The loose end is a lot longer than the one found in the traditional style, and it can also cover the head. This style originated in the family of Rabindranath Tagore, the poet laureate of India.
• Gujarati : similar to nivi style, but with the loose end taken from the back and draped around the right shoulder.
• Nauvari : similar to the Maharashtrian male dhoti but with regional and societal variations. To wrap this style of saree, the cloth is held lengthwise and placed at the center of the back. Then the two ends are wrapped around the legs and afterward tied in the front. When wearing nauvari style, women often require an extra nine yards of cloth to cover the upper body and the shoulders.
• Assamese : also known as mekhela chador and consists of three main pieces, the top, skirt, and cloth that is draped around the other two.
• Manipuri : from the northeast is similar to the mekhela chador and is a three-piece garment known as a innaphi viel.
• Maharashtrian : the center of the saree is placed at the center back, the ends are brought forward and tied and, finally, the two ends are enfolded around the legs. This is the style used by Brahmin women.
• Kodagu : a style used only by the women from the Kodagu district of Karnataka. The pleats, instead of the front, are created in the back. The loose end is draped back to front on the right shoulder.
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Accessories

Sarees have one plain end, two long decorative borders, and a section (from one to three-foot) at the other end that elaborates the lengthwise decoration. This section is called pallu and, in the navi style of draping, it is draped over the shoulder.

In the past, silk or cotton was used to weave the saree. Rich people used to wear diaphanous sarees made of silk that could be passed through a ring. The poor, instead, used to wear cotton saree. However, all the sarees were handwoven.

The simplest sarees are decorated with stripes woven into the cloth, and the most inexpensive ones were decorated with block printing. More expensive sarees were ornated with elaborated floral ornaments or brocades created as a part of the fabric. Sometimes threads of different colors were woven to form an ornamented border.

Sarees could also be decorated after weaving, using colored silk thread or using gold and silver threads or precious stones.

Nowadays, most sarees are woven using mechanical looms and the fibers used are artificial (polyester, nylon, or rayon). The handwoven ones are of course way more expensive than the machine ones.

The market for handwoven sarees is not as prosperous as in the past, but this kind of sarees is still popular especially for weddings.

Indian traditional Dress for Women

There are many different kinds of clothing traditionally worn by Indian women, and all of them are associated with the local culture, religion, and the climate. Mumbai is nowadays the fashion capital of India, but in a lot of rural areas, women continue to wear traditional clothes.

Mekhela Sador

The traditional dress of Assamese people is worn by women of all ages. There are 3 main pieces:

• The bottom portion, draped from the waist downwards, is called mekhela. It is shaped like a wide cylinder that is folded into pleats (to the right) and tucked in.
• The third piece is called riha, which is covered by the sador. It is quite narrow, and women wear them during important ceremonial occasions.

Salwar Kameez

Salwar is a word used to indicate a lower garment, such as the one used for the Punjabi salwar and Dogri pajama.

The salwar kameez is traditionally worn by the women of Punjab and is also called Punjabi suit. The dress consists of a pair of trousers that narrows at the ankles (the salwar), paired with a tunic top (the kameez). Women usually also wear a veil to cover the head or the shoulders.

This dress is worn by almost every teenage girl and a huge number of actresses in Bollywood movies.

Churidaar is a variation of the salwar. It is loose around the knees and tight around the calf. It can be worn with any kind of upper garment or as a part of the anarkali suit (see below).

Anarkali suit

This Indian style consists of a long dress-like shirt with slim-fitting bottoms. It is mainly worn by women in North India, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Indian women often wear anarkali suits on occasions like traditional festivals, annual celebrations, and formal dinners. Such occasions are what keeps traditional customs and attire alive in India.

Anarkali suits can vary in length and some of them touch the floor. During weddings and events, many women like to wear a heavier embroidered anarkali suit. The tops of these suits can be sleeveless or have long sleeves.

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Lehenga Choli

This is the traditional dress of women in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and it is also worn during some folk dances. It is a combination of three pieces: a lehenga, a long skirt; a choli, which is a blouse shell garment; and an odhani, a shawl-like scarf.

While the saree has long been the most popular dress for Indian women, it began to absorb elements from western clothes starting in the late 1970s. Today, women are opting for the more comfortable and less conservative salwar kameez that is now worn in cities all over India.

Nowadays, women living in urban areas wear more casual western garments like suits, skirts, T-shirts, and jeans in their free time and have a choice between both traditional and western clothes at work. Fashion designers have blended elements of Indian traditional dress with conventional western wear creating a new twist of sarees, salwar kameez, lehengas (large skirts), and other styles.

Traditional Indian attire such as the kurti, a cotton shirt than normally extends to the mid-thigh, now has a more stylish range of embroidered patterns and designer styles. Wearing a kurti with a dupatta, or shawl, draped over the neck and pants forms a modern and popular fusion of Western and Indian styles.

Most star-rated luxury hotels require their female staff to wear saree uniforms. While the male staff usually wears a Western suite with a turban to show the intrinsic culture of the land.

Indian traditional clothing for men

There are many traditional clothes worn by Indian men, such as Achkan, Bandhgala, Lungi, Dhoti, and Sari jama. Recently, the government of India included pants and shirts among the traditional dress worn by Indian men.

Dhoti is the national dress of India. It is from four to six feet long and it made of cotton. It is the traditional attire mainly worn by men in villages, at it is held in place or by a style of wrapping or with a belt around the waist.

Men in India also wear long sarong known as mundu. Shirts are usually worn over the dhoti.

Panche (or Lungi)

A lungi (also called sarong) is another traditional Indian garment. A mundu is a lungi, but it is always white. It can be tucked in, up to the knee-length, or allowed to reach the ankles.

Usually, people tuck it in when they are working, and left open to show one's respect, for example in worship places.

Tungi is mainly a male clothing but is also worn by elderly women, mostly because of its good aeration. It is an item widespread in many different countries, such as Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Somalia.

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Anchkan/Sherwani

An anchkan is a long coat (or jacket) that usually has exposed buttons through the length of the jacket. It arrives just below the knees, and it sports a Nehru collar, that stands up.

The anchkan is paired with fitting pants called churidars, a kind of trousers that are loose around the hips and the thighs, but tight around the ankle.

It is the traditional dress worn by grooms, and usually, it is cream, light ivory or gold.

A bandhgala (also known as jodhpuri) is the formal evening suit worn by Indian men. It originated in the Jodhpur State and became extremely popular especially under the British Raj.

It has a coat and a trouser, and sometimes a vest. It is a way to put together the western cut with Indian hand-embroidery.

Usually, silk is used. The material is lined at the collar and at the buttons with embroidery. The material can be plain or jacquard, and normally the color of the trousers match that of the coat.

The jama is a long coat popularized during the Mughal period. There are many different kinds of jama, even if they are not as used as in the past. However, some men still wear the jama known as angarkha.

Pagri – The Indian turban

Pagri is the term used to indicate the turbans originated in the Indian subcontinent. There various types of turban, and wearing one is a way to indicate one's social, religious, and caste status.

One of the most famous types of turban is dastar, the headwear that symbolizes Sikhism. It is not a simple piece of clothing, it represents honor, self-respect, courage, spirituality, and piety. The turban is used to cover the long hair, and it is seen as an acceptance of the will of God.

Pheta is the turban worn in the Maharashtra region, especially during weddings. The color varies according to the occasion and, for example, saffron indicates honor, while white indicates peace.

In Rajasthan, men wear pagari, that varies in style, color and size and indicates the wearer's social class, caste, and region. In the desert, the turbans are large and loose; and the biggest turbans are worn by farmers and shepherds, who need to protect their head from the elements of nature.

In India, a traditional wedding has to follow a series of rituals and each has its significance in the marriage and celebrates the changes that are taking place. A wedding usually lasts for several days with different ceremonies each day.

Weddings often include a Tilak (the placing of a red mark worn on the forehead), Sangeet (and event with dancing, performances, and the playing of traditional music), Haldi (making turmeric paste and applying it to the skin of the bride), and Baraat (a wedding procession for the groom).

All these ceremonies are glittering events that showcase the range and variety of clothes worn by both men and women. On the wedding day, the bride and groom will dress up in their gorgeous outfits with gota patti embroidery that is made from gold or silver threads.

The Bride's Dress

Most brides wear a bejeweled bright red wedding saree. Wedding attire is often red as it is considered to be the most auspicious color. Some brides also choose not to wear a saree and instead wear an elaborately embroidered lehenga (heavy long skirt).

In West India, East India, and South India the saree is the more preferred bridal dress, while in North India the lehenga is more popular.

Henna patterns or mehendi are to be worn on the bride's body usually covering her palms, hands, legs, and feet. Putting henna on a bride is done as part of the wedding preparations. Henna is a form of body art that uses the plant lawsonia inermis to dye the skin dark brown and create beautiful patterns.

Awlata is a red dye that is applied with cotton to the hands and feet. Awlata is typically seen on fingertips and the end of the bride's toes.

A henna ceremony is held the night before the wedding, usually organized by the bride's family. This ceremony brings together all the female members. The core idea behind this practice is to make use of the herb's medicinal values to cool the nerve endings and relieve the bride's stress. It is also a way to wish the bride good health and prosperity.

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The Groom Wedding Attire

Grooms from South India usually wear traditional costumes called dhoti that come in plain or solid colors with embroidered borders. South Indians may also wear a cotton mundu, or draped cloth, on their lower half.

In North India, grooms wear a sherwani that features detailed embroidery or patterns. They may also choose to wear a jodhpuri suit consisting of a coat, trousers, and a vest.

If you are visiting Delhi and would like to shop for some good-quality ready-made garments, there are dozens of markets around the city worth looking into. Besides Connaught Place, almost every residential area boasts a clothing market ranging from an old established shops or bazaars to high-end boutiques and department stores.

Indian traditional textiles are available in most high-quality shops, particularly Central Cottage Industries Emporium on Janpath. This multilevel store is a wonderful place for Indian handicrafts from stoneware, woodcarvings, and bamboo products to paintings and textiles. This mall also has a selection of quality silk, cotton, traditionally dyed fabrics.

Anoki is a store in Khan Market that can be distinguished by its prints and sense of design. This shop provides a wide collection of tunics, skirts, salwar kameez, chudidars, patialas, dupattas, stoles, and tops. You can also find colorful bed linen and light cotton quilts here.

The Lodi Colony Market has several boutiques offering Indian designer wear including that from the stylish brand Abraham. The store Shyam Ahuja sells linen and textiles.

Mumbai is another shopping paradise in India. Large malls, department stores, and stylish boutiques all stock a variety of interesting goods. Boutiques like Aza and Ensemble , specialize in popular Indian designer labels including high-fashion Western brands and traditional Indian apparel.

Casual ready-made garments are available at Cotton World , a store dedicated to natural clothing by using natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, modal, tencel, and viscose. A variety of comfortable and quality rich clothes for women, men, and kids can be found at this store.

If you are looking for more traditional Indian textiles and weaves, Fantasia , Indian Textiles , and Fabindia offer a wide range of silk saris, home furnishings, and accessories.

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Indian Clothing

India is known for its diversity the all over the globe. Ethnic clothing is just one of the things that distinguish one part of India from the other. The traditional Indian attire has earned admirers from people from all over to organizations like UNESCO. The craftsmanship with which artisans create traditional dresses is really incredible. All forms of clothing are quite labor intensive and require a lot of attention to detail. Many of these art forms are dying because the cost of production is higher and few people can afford to pay the high cost of the dress. This has forced the textile ministry to come up with ways to sustain these artisans and preserve their talent and art. As every state in India is geographically different from the other, this has given rise to varied kinds of dresses and styles.

Foreign Influences on Indian Clothing

The traditional Salwar-Kurta or the Salwar-Kameez was the result of the practice followed by Muslim women to wear divided garments during the Mughal period. This dress has survived to this day and has a variant called ‘Chooridar’ in which the salwar is replaced by the ‘Chooridar’ a tapering pant with folds at the bottom.

The ‘Lehenga’ is another dress that had its origins during Mughal times. It was believed to be a dress that defined Indian values completely, which is probably why it has survived to this day. Even now, it makes use of Mughal era patterns and designs though it has been given many contemporary designs as well. In Gujarat and Rajasthan the variant of the Lehenga- the ‘Ghagra Choli’ with an ‘Odhni’ or dupatta still preserves its ethnicity with mirror work and embroidery. Some Rajasthani women wear black ‘Ghagra Cholis’ with Cowrie shells and mirror work too. During the reign of the Nawabs in Lucknow the ‘Sharara’ or ‘Gharara’ was born which was influenced by the ‘Ghagra Choli’.

During the British rule, women in West Bengal did not wear blouses and covered the upper part of their body with the end of their saree. The British populace did not find it appropriate and that is how blouses and petticoats came into existence.

The Saree is one Indian dress that enjoys worldwide popularity. The UNESCO praises it as “valuable Indian contribution to the world’s cultural heritage and diversity”. Artisans across the country make use of locally available resources to produce sarees, which are a masterpiece in their own self. The beautiful weaves and designs on sarees makes one wonder about the creativity of these weavers. Different regions of India have different specialty and variety of sarees. Though there are several varieties, the famous ones are Chanderi and Maheshwari from Madhya Pradesh, Banarsi saree (which have brocade work), Paithan in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra has kept alive the 2000-year old traditional method of weaving Paithani sarees using pure gold threads and yarns of silk. The other types of sarees are Andhra Pradesh’s Pochampally saree or PochampalliIkat, in which skillful weavers create geometric patterns in silk, Assam is home to rich golden colored Muga silk, the finest of India’s wild silk sarees. Kanjivaram and Patola are also the finest silk sarees in India.

Talking of Kashmiri dresses, the ‘Pheran’ is what comes to mind instantly. It is a loose woolen gown which is worn by both men and women to beat the freezing temperatures of the region. It has minute embroidery around the neck and the edges.

You must have seen Bihu dancers dancing in motif-rich ‘Mekhela Chador’- the traditional dress worn in the state of Assam. This dress is made from Muga silk and consists of a skirt-like lower part. The ‘Riha’ and ‘Chador’ is worn on the upper part of the body.

Another eye-catching north-eastern dress is the ‘Puanchei’ of Mizoram, which is cherished by every Mizo woman. It is paired with the ‘Kawrechi’ blouse that gives the Bamboo dance its distinct feel because of the colourful designs and patterns of the dress.

Coming to men’s clothing, we find that the unstructured ‘Angrakha’, that was a court outfit in ancient times, has given birth to the ‘Bandhgala’. It is now a preferred dress for weddings and formal occasions. It is also a favourite with politicians and the royals. Another dress that is considered perfect for weddings is the Sherwani. During weddings men can be seen donning a Dhoti or a Pyjama with a Sherwani. Sherwani is also worn on other special occasions like festivals and other celebrations. A kurta is also worn with pyjamas in North India. In fact, the Pathani suit is a popular regular wear in Patiala and the richer version is also worn during weddings. In Srinagar it is also known as ‘Khan’ dress.

The Dhoti-Kurta is the traditional wear of men in villages mostly in south Indian cities. It is an unstitched piece of cloth in plain white, coloured or checks, which is wrapped around the waist. It is known by different names in different parts of India like ‘Mundu’ in Malayalam, ‘Dhotar’ in Marathi, ‘Panche’ in Kannada and many other names. The Dhoti is worn almost all over India but the form may differ.

These dresses carry with them our age old traditions that keep us connected to our roots and make us enjoy our vibrant cultures.

Traditional Indian Clothing: Roots, Customs, and Its Cultural Impact

Categories Asian Culture , Culture , Indian culture

Rooted in India’s rich heritage, traditional clothing epitomizes cultural legacy and significance. From the graceful sarees to the dignified sherwanis, each garment symbolizes meticulous craftsmanship and enduring customs.

Traditional Indian clothing harmonizes tradition with modernity, reflecting regional identities and cultural nuances. Whether for festivities or daily wear, these attires express personal style while honoring cultural traditions.

With intricate designs and vibrant colors, Indian fashion embodies the nation’s pride and resilience, bridging past and present. Within these fabrics lies the essence of India’s varied heritage, weaving tales of identity and elegance.

Development of Indian Vintage Attire

• Female's Outfit
• Male's Outfit

Salwar Kameez

Lehenga choli, achka/sherwani bandhgali, karta angarkha, sari and wrapped garments, panche or lungi, dhos or kurta pajama, traditional accessories, 5. pattern of indian attire, traditional indian clothing: a recap.

1. Historical Background

Exploring traditional Indian clothing unveils a rich woven art of a cultural heritage spanning centuries. Influenced by differing dynasties and customs, these garments stand as timeless symbols of India’s history.

From the elegant Indian sarees to the detailed sherwani, each dress reflects Indian cultural richness. Whether at weddings or festivals, they epitomize Indian identity. Through every thread and color, they narrate stories of resilience and pride, ensuring India’s sartorial legacy endures through generations.

2. Enduring Indian Style

Female’s outfit.

India’s rich cultural heritage is beautifully reflected in the traditional clothing worn by women, boasting an array of exquisite styles and designs. From the resplendent saree to the graceful salwar kameez, each garment carries with it a story steeped in centuries-old traditions and regional influences.

Accompanying these stunning ensembles are a plethora of traditional accessories, each adding a touch of elegance. The intricately crafted Jhumka earrings , adorned with vibrant beads and precious stones, enhance the beauty of the attire, while the delicate bindi, placed elegantly on the forehead, serves as a symbol of grace and tradition.

With their timeless charm and craftsmanship, these accessories complement the attire, representing India’s cultural legacy and reverence for tradition.

Male’s Outfit

Men’s clothing in India boasts different styles, from the majestic sherwani to the classic kurta pajama, each reflecting centuries-old traditions and regional influences. Wrapped garments like the Karta Angarkha and Jama are timeless symbols of elegance.

Complementing these ensembles are refined accessories. The intricately designed turban, often adorned with jewels or feathers, signifies tradition, while the stole or dupatta adds charm.

3. Legendary Antique Indian Garb

The Salwar Kameez, a staple of traditional Indian attire, is known for its elegance and versatility. Crafted from various fabrics like cotton, silk, and chiffon, it consists of a long tunic top (kameez), loose-fitting trousers (salwar), and a coordinating scarf (dupatta).

Worn across India for everyday wear and special occasions, it can be styled in different ways to suit individual preferences. The dupatta can be draped over the shoulders or around the neck, while the length and fit of the kameez and salwar vary based on personal style.

Reflecting regional aesthetics and personal style, each Salwar Kameez is adorned with intricate embroidery or vibrant prints, narrating a unique story of tradition.

The Lehenga Choli, a traditional Indian ensemble, is crafted from luxurious fabrics like silk, satin, and chiffon. It comprises a flared skirt ( Lehenga ) adorned with intricate embroidery and a fitted blouse (Choli).

This outfit is popular for weddings, festivals, and special occasions. The coordinating scarf (Dupatta) completes the ensemble, draped over the shoulders or around the neck. The Lehenga Choli is cherished for its elegance and versatility, suitable for various cultural events and celebrations across India.

The Achkan or Sherwani, tailored from opulent materials like silk, brocade, or velvet, exudes opulence and refinement. This regal ensemble comprises a long coat-like garment intricately embellished, paired with tailored trousers.

Typically worn for weddings, festive celebrations, and formal events, it symbolizes elegance and tradition in Indian fashion. While optional, a coordinating Dupatta may be draped over one shoulder for added elegance.

The Karta Angarkha, symbolizing Indian tradition, is tailored from opulent materials like silk, brocade, or velvet, intricately detailed for elegance. This garment, featuring a wrap-around style and flowing silhouette, is worn for weddings, festive occasions, and formal events, reflecting the pinnacle of Indian fashion.

The Jama, a hallmark of Indian tradition, represents timeless elegance and cultural significance. With its distinctive style, this garment holds a revered place in Indian dress.

The Jama, made from luxurious fabrics like silk or velvet, features a flowing silhouette and intricate designs. Worn for weddings, festive occasions, and formal events, it reflects Indian culture and heritage with its traditional motifs and patterns.

The Sari and wrapped garments stand as enduring symbols of Indian tradition and elegance. With their timeless appeal and versatility, they hold a cherished place in the hearts of Indians and admirers worldwide.

Crafted from luxurious fabrics like silk or chiffon, this outfit features an elegant drape and intricate designs. Adorned with traditional motifs and vibrant colors, it reflects the rich tradition of Indian culture. It is typically worn for special events and formal gatherings, showcasing the wearer’s appreciation for Indian style and tradition.

The Panche or Lungi represents quintessential Indian attire, embodying simplicity and practicality while preserving identity. Worn predominantly in South India , these garments have transcended generations, retaining their significance in everyday life and ceremonial occasions alike.

The Panche or Lungi, crafted from lightweight fabrics like cotton or linen, offers comfort in warm climates. With a simple rectangular design, they are easy to wrap around the waist and come in various colors and patterns reflecting regional preferences.

The Dhoti or Kurta Pajama ensemble, typically made from lightweight fabrics like cotton, linen, or silk, ensures comfort in India’s warm climate and is worn by men across India for Daily wardrobe and ceremonial occasions.

The Dhoti, a draped fabric, symbolizes modesty when wrapped around the waist. Paired with a loose-fitting Kurta tunic and Pajama trousers, this attire offers both style and comfort for various occasions.

India boasts a rich array of accessories steeped in tradition and history, serving as timeless symbols of elegance. Meticulously crafted jewelry, including necklaces, chokers, earrings, Kadas, bangles, and cocktail rings adorned with gemstones and intricate patterns, adds glamour to any attire.

Traditional Indian accessories such as Maang-tikka, Nosepins, Haath Phool, scarves, belts, and hair ornaments enhance the beauty of ethnic wear, contributing to India’s rich cultural legacy.

4. Faith-based Classic Clothing

In India, Hindu attire incorporates rich symbolism, vibrant colors, and different styles. Clothing holds significance in expressing devotion and cultural pride during ceremonies and festivities.

Symbols: Elements like the bindi and tilak hold religious significance, while traditional garments like the dhoti and saree represent Hindu customs.

Colors: Red symbolizes prosperity, white represents purity, yellow signifies auspiciousness, and green symbolizes renewal.

Styles: Men wear dhotis, kurtas, and sherwanis, while women adorn sarees, salwar kameez, and lehenga cholis, reflecting regional diversity.

In India, Sikh traditional clothing reflects profound identity and values rooted in Sikhism. Garments like the turban for men and the Salwar Kameez for women symbolize spirituality, humility, and equality.

Beyond symbols, Sikh attire promotes inclusivity and compassion, embodying the core principles of Sikhism.

See Also Traditional Italian Clothing

In India, Buddhist traditional clothing reflects serenity and profound symbolism, embodying the spiritual values of Buddhism. These garments serve as expressions of devotion, mindfulness, and respect for tradition.

Featuring simple designs prioritizing comfort, Buddhist attire incorporates colors symbolizing aspects of Buddhist philosophy. Central to this attire are “kasaya” robes worn by monks and nuns, symbolizing commitment to the Buddhist path.

Accessories like prayer beads complement Buddhist clothing, each carrying significance in Buddhist practice.

Traditional Indian clothing is characterized by a rich array of patterns and textures. From the intricate embroidery on the saree to the detailed embellishments on the sherwani, each garment showcases unique motifs inspired by nature, mythology, and historical events. Vibrant colors and elaborate threadwork combine to create captivating textures, evoking a sense of elegance and opulence.

Traditional Indian clothing conveys the rich and varied folk fabric of India, showcasing an array of styles and garments that celebrate the country’s vibrant rituals. From the ornate Salwar Kameez of the east to the intricate turbans of the north, each attire narrates a unique story of Indian identity.

Over centuries, Indian clothing has evolved, blending historical influences with contemporary trends, yet retaining its symbolic value. The graceful lehenga choli for celebrations and the dignified dhoti kurta for religious ceremonies remain integral to daily life and festivities.

By upholding and donning traditional Indian clothing, individuals honor their cultural roots and contribute to the enduring narrative of Indian fashion and heritage.

Traditional Dresses Of Indian States

India is the land of “ Unity in diversity “, it harbors various cultures, traditions, religions, castes, languages, races, and ethnic groups. Diversity means the difference in people’s race, religion, language, and traditional dresses, however, Unity is being together as an Indian Society.

India has 28 states and 8 union territories, each having a different culture and civilization. Each state has its own traditional clothes and fashion culture. Here we are presenting a collection of dress codes of 28 Indian states.

1. Andhra Pradesh:

Andhra Pradesh is a southern state in India. It shares its boundaries with Telangana, Chhatisgarh, and Odisha with the Bay of Bengal in the east. Called the “ Rice Bowl of Indi a” as they grow rice in plenty.

Andhra Pradesh is regarded as the Kohinoor of India for its famous weaving and dying industry. The traditional wear of Andhra Pradesh is much the same as in other southern Indian states. Men usually wear kurta and dhoti, while lungis are also worn with a kurta. Muslim men wear pajamas with kurta in place of the dhoti.

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The women of Andhra Pradesh wear saree and they are original handloom sarees, young women wear Langa Voni. For marriage ceremonies, the bride wears silk sarees which are red and decorated with gold plating, while the bridegroom wears kurta and full-length dhoti.

With the influence of western culture people of urban areas wear western clothes in the office/workplace. women prefer to wear salwar kameez or western clothing rather than saree. Youth and kids wear pants, shirts, and t-shirts.

2. Arunachal Pradesh:

Arunachal Pradesh is the north-eastern state of India bordering with Nagaland and Assam to the south, while Myanmar to the east, Bhutan in the west, and China to the north. Their dresses are very vibrant, bright and their myriad patterns vary with different tribes. The Attire of Arunachal Pradesh is remarkable and famous all over India.

The Monpas, the Buddhist community are famous for their skull cap, women wear sleeveless chemise with a long jacket. There is a narrow strip of cloth that they tied around their waist to keep chemise tied in place.

Bamboo earrings and silver earrings are very common. Females of tribes residing in the lower Kamla valley have a very peculiar costume. They tie their hairs in a knot just above their forehead.

Men wear sleeveless material made of silk with two edges pinned to the shoulder area. The clothing is knee-long and its hallmark is the skull -cap smeared with hairs of yak.

Tang’s tribe people adorn costumes which is the style of Burmese. Men wear sleeveless shirts and lungi of green color with white, red, and yellow yarn. Women wear a woven petticoat with a blouse. Miji women wear long cloaks and big earrings.

Assam is surrounded by seven northeastern states in India. The traditional dress for men is dhoti-kurta while for women they wear ‘ Mekhela-Chador ‘ or ‘ Riha-Mekhela ’.

This traditional dress is made from the prestigious ‘ Muga Silk ‘ which is the peculiarity, as well as the pride of Assam. They also wear ‘Dokhora’ and dresses like a salwar suit, sari, etc. Women feel proud to wear handloom products, especially Mekhela chador, during special occasions like weddings and festivals like Bihu and Saraswati puja.

The women of the Bodo Tribe wear Mekhela paired with a chadar while women of the Thai Phake Tribe wear a striped girdle called Chiarchin. The traditional dress worn by the menfolk of Assam is ‘Suria’ or ‘dhoti’ and ‘kameez’ or ‘shirt’ and over it, a chadar known as ‘Seleng’ is spread.

The traditional dress of the Bihari people includes the dhoti-mirjai or the kurta for men and Saree for women. The effects of western culture have also affected the lives of the people of Bihar where women prefer to wear saree or Kameez-Salwar.

The saree is worn in the “ Seedha Aanchal ” style traditionally. Western shirts and trousers are also becoming very popular in both the rural and urban male population.

5. Chhattisgarh:

Chhattisgarh is a central state of India. It’s rich in culture, legacy, and enormous diversity of various ethnic sets. Chhattisgarh tribes wear bright and colorful fabrics. They love to wear jewelry on their neck. Chhattisgarh traditional women’s clothing is a Kuchhora style saree. Their saree are knee-length.

Men in tribal groups wear dhotis and headgears like cotton turbans. The fabrics used are linen, silk, and cotton and they are usually painted with molten wax. Their tie and dye technique used in fabrics is called Batik.

Goa the land of beaches is immensely popular among tourists. The women of goa wear Nav Vari which is a 9-yard saree studded with precious stones and worn with beautiful accessories.

Other women’s traditional costumes are ‘ Pano Bhaju ‘. The men in goa wear brightly colored shirts, half pants, and bamboo hats.

7. Gujarat:

The traditional dress of Gujarat is unique in its own way. The women wear Chaniya choli, Chaniya is a colored petticoat embroidered with glass pieces while choli is a colored piece of coarse cloth covering the upper body.

Along with the colorful attire, women adorn themselves with sparkling ornaments. Men wear Chrono & Kediyu, but nowadays instead of wearing traditional outfits, people dress in modern apparel.

8. Haryana:

Women love to wear colorful dresses. Their basic trousseau includes ‘Damaan’, ‘Kurti’ & ‘Chunder’. ‘Chunder’ is the long, colored piece of cloth, decorated with shiny laces, meant to cover the head and is drawn in the front like the ‘pallav’ of the saree. Kurti is a shirt like a blouse, usually white in color. The ‘Daaman’ is the flair ankle-long skirt, in striking colors.

The men generally wear ‘Dhoti’, the wrap-around cloth, tucked in between the legs with a white-colored kurta worn atop it. ‘Pagri’ is the traditional headgear for men, which is now worn mainly by the old villagers. All-white attire is a status symbol for men.

9. Himachal Pradesh:

The people of Himachal Pradesh mostly wear woolens as its best suited to the climate. Scarves and shawls are ubiquitous with the women while the men can be found in various types of Kurtas and the typical Himachal cap.

The Rajput males comprise starch stiffened Kurtas and body-hugging ‘Churidaars’. The females of this group apparel themselves little conventionally costumes like kurtas ( shirt-like oriental blouse ), Salwar, Ghaghara ( Indian long skirts ), choli ( blouses or tops ), and Rahide ( headscarves decked with golden periphery ).

10. Jammu and Kashmir:

The Pheran is a prominent attire for Kashmiri women. The Pheran is worn by women usually has Zari, embroidery on the hemline, around pockets, and mostly on the collar area. Ladies prefer a suit and Burgha in summer and Pheran are preferred in autumn.

The typical dress of a Kashmiris man both Hindu and Muslim is Pheran, a long loose gown hanging down below the knees. The men wear a skullcap, a close-fitting shalwar (Muslims), or churidar pajama (Pandits).

11. Jharkhand:

On auspicious occasions in Jharkhand like Pooja Text or Wedding Vagera, people wear their local traditional clothes like kurta, pajamas, lehenga, saris, dhoti, sherwani, etc. Tussar silk sarees are made in Jharkhand, known for their elegance and unique look. Tribal women wear Parthan and Panchi.

But nowadays people have moved on from wearing traditional dresses to adopt western culture garments. People here started wearing jeans, t-shirts, shirts, lower, jackets, belly, blazer suits, etc.

12. Karnataka:

The traditional clothing for women in Karnataka is a saree made of silk. Karnataka is known as the Silk hub of India as a wide variety of silk can be found here. Mysore and Bangalore are mainly famous for their silk industries.

Kanchipuram or Kanjeevaram silks of Karnataka are very famous all over India. The traditional dress for men in Karnataka is Lungi, worn under the waist below a shirt. Mysore Peta is a conventional headdress for men.

13. Kerala:

The traditional clothing of women in Kerala is the ‘Kerala Saree’ or the Mundum Neriyathum . This is in two pieces, one is draped on the lower part of the body and then the neriyathu is worn over a blouse.

The men of Kerala tend to be more conservative than women and stick to tradition. Mundu is worn on the lower part of the body and is a long garment tucked around the waist, it reaches their ankles. Many prefer to wear it above their waist and the higher caste drape a cloth over their shoulders.

14. Madhya Pradesh:

Women of Madhya Pradesh wear Lehenga and Choli with an Orni or Lugra, which is an additional cloth wrapped around their heads and shoulders. Whereas the male community wears dhoti along with Bandi, which is a kind of jacket and headgear.

15. Maharashtra:

Traditional clothes for Maharashtrian males include the dhoti, also known as dhotar, and pheta, while a choli and nine-yard saree locally known as Nauwari Saadi or Lugda are for women.

Traditional clothing is famous in rural areas while traditional people from cities also wear these clothes. These clothes are worn by Maharashtrians while performing various festivals.

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16. Manipur:

Innaphi and Phanek are the Manipuri traditional dress for women in Manipur. A shawl or dupatta called Innaphi and a skirt called a Phanek, which are wrapped around the chest. The dress is woven with a hand in horizontal lines.

Men wear dhotis which is four and a half meters long. These are wrapped around the waist and legs and knotted at the waist, and paired with smart jackets or bundis. Headgear is a white pagri or turban.

17. Meghalaya:

Meghalaya has three main tribes Khasi, Jaintias, and Garos, and the traditional dress of each tribe is peculiar. The traditional Khasi female dress is called the Jainsem or Dhara, both of which are rather elaborate with several pieces of cloth, giving the body a cylindrical shape. The traditional Khasi male dress is a Jymphong, a longish sleeveless coat without a collar, fastened by thongs in front.

A Garo woman also wears a blouse and an unstitched ‘lungi’ like cloth which is known as ‘Dakmanda.’ It is fastened around the waist. Both Garo men and women enjoy adorning themselves with ornaments. The women of the Jaintia tribe wear a velvet blouse along with a sarong called ‘Thoh Khyrwang’ which is wrapped around the waist.

18. Mizoram:

Mizo women love to wear Puran, which is the most favorite dress in Mizoram. The lively color and the exceptional designs and fittings made this outfit superb. Puanchei, the gorgeous dress of Mizo girls is a must during weddings and festivals such as ‘Chapchar Kut’ and ‘Pawl Kut ‘. The shades in the attire are black and white. The black portion of the textile is originated from some kind of synthetic fur. Kawrchei is a fabulous blouse for Mizo girls. That also is hand-woven and cotton material.

Mizo men drape themselves in an almost 7 feet long and 5 wide cloth piece. In the cold season, some additional cloth is used, one on top of the other, along with a white coat, comes down from the throat enveloping the thighs. White and red bands, stuffed with designs adorn the sleeves of these coats.

19. Nagaland:

Naga has Red as the most primary color in costumes. The traditional dress material and costume of the Angami men are kilt and wrapper, while the women use a skirt, shawl, and apron. Most of the women, unlike men, wear traditional dresses. A kilt looping down to the knee is a man’s typical waist dress which is of light blue color.

A women’s skirt is a sheet of cloth that is used by rolling it along the waist and which loops down to cover legs. Neck ornaments are mainly strings of beads, shells, boar’s tusks, and horns.

20. Odisha:

In Odisha western-style dress has gained greater acceptance in cities and towns among men, although the people prefer to wear traditional dresses like Dhoti, Kurtha, and Gamache during festivals or other religious occasions. Women normally prefer to wear the Sari ( Sambalpuri Sari ) or the Shalwar kameez; western attire is becoming popular among younger women in cities and towns.

21. Punjab:

The traditional dress for women is the salwar suit which replaced the traditional Punjabi ghagra. The Punjabi suit is made up of a kurta or kameez and a straight-cut salwar. The Patiala salwar is also very popular in India.

The traditional dress for Punjabi men is the kurta and tehmat, which is being replaced by the kurta and pajama, especially the popular muktsari style in India. It is called muktsari style because it originates from Muktsar in Punjab.

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22. Rajasthan:

Traditionally men wear dhotis, kurta, angarkha, and paggar or safa (kind of turban headgear). Traditional Chudidar pajama (puckered trousers) frequently replaces dhoti in different regions. Women wear ghagra (long skirt) and Kanchi (top). However, the dress style changes with the lengths and breaths of vast Rajasthan. Dhoti is worn in different ways in Marwar (Jodhpur area) or Shekhawati (Jaipur area) or Hadoti (Bundi area).

23. Sikkim:

The traditional costume of Lepcha women is called Dumvum or Dumdyam. It is an ankle-long costume worn like a sari. Another costume worn is Nyamrek which is beautifully attached to the blouse. another community Bhutia wears Bakhu or Kho costumes. It is a loose, cloak-style garment that is fastened at the neck on one side and near the waist with a silk or cotton belt.

Male members wear loose trousers under the Kho. The traditional outfit is complemented by embroidered leather boots by both men and women.

24. Tamil Nadu:

In Tamil Nadu women wear sarees. The young girls wear full-length short blouses and shawls, this style of wearing is called Pavada, which also known as a half sari. Now, most of the women in cities are wearing Salwar Kameez, Jeans, and Pants.

The Tamil Nadu men are usually seen dressed in Lungi along with a shirt and Angavastra. The traditional Lungi originated in the South and it is simply a short length of material worn around the thighs like a Sarong. A Dhoti is a longer Lungi but with an additional length of material pulled up between the legs.

25. Telangana:

Telangana is rich in cotton production and its innovative plant dye extraction history stands next to diamond mining. Traditional Women wear a sari in most parts of the state. Langa Voni, Shalwar kameez, and Churidaar are popular among unmarried women.

Some of the famous sarees made in Telangana are Pochampally Saree, Gadwal sari. Male Clothing includes the traditional Dhoti also known as Pancha.

26. Tripura:

The dress for women for the lower half of the body is called Rigwnai in Tripuri and for the upper half of the body, the cloth has two parts Risa and Rikutu. Risa covers the chest part and the rikutu covers the whole upper half of the body. Nowadays risa is not worn, instead, a blouse is worn by most Tripuri women because of convenience.

The male counterpart used to wear ‘rikutu’ for the loin and ‘kamchwlwi borok’ for the upper part of the body. But in the modern age, very few people are wearing these dresses except in the rural Tripura and working class.

27. Uttar Pradesh:

The costume of Uttar Pradesh is a very typical one where the women are clad in their saris adorned by the golden jewelry and Mangal Sutra ( a chain with a pendulum gifted by the groom to his bride ) worn by married women while the men look clad in dhoti kurta or kurta pajama. Toe rings are common all over Uttar Pradesh among married woman folks.

28. Uttarakhand:

Dress for females is Ghagara, Aagari, Dhoti Kurta, Bhotu. While for males churidar pajama, Kurta, Gol topi or Jawahar topi, Bhotu, Dhoti, Mirje are worn.

Dhoti or Lungi is worn by men as a lower garment, with kurta as the upper garment. Men also like to wear headgear in Garhwal.

29. West Bengal:

Bengali women traditionally wear the sari and shalwar kameez. The traditional dress for men like a dhoti, Panjabi, kurta, sherwani, pajama, and lungi are seen during weddings and major festivals.

But nowadays people don’t wear traditional dresses rather than they like to wear comfortable western dresses.

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Simmi Kamboj

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• What Are Examples of Traditional Indian Clothing?

Traditional dresses of India vary from one part of the country to another based on geography, climate, ethnicity, and culture. In the era of westernization and globalization, India has managed to preserve its culture through the garments worn. Traditional Indian clothes are especially a staple in celebrations such as weddings and festivals.

12. History Of Fashion In India

Garments worn in India have evolved over time. Influences from the Gupta period, establishment of Islam, and British colonization have been visible in Indian costumes throughout history. Fashion in India became a widespread phenomenon after independence, especially in the late the 1980s through to the 1990s. During this period, India was exposed to global fashion, and an economic boom fueled the growth of the industry. Emerging Indian designers merged both old and western elements and perfected the art of embroidery to make statement garments. The thriving Bollywood industry also contributed much to the boom of India’s fashion industry.

11. The Indian Saree

The Indian Saree is a traditional dress for Indian women. It is comprised of one piece of fabric which is five to nine yards long and two to four feet wide. The material is wrapped in a variety of ways depending on the occasion. The fabric is commonly wrapped around the waist while the other end is draped over the shoulder such that the midriff is left bare. The garment’s history is traced back to as early as the Indus Valley Civilization. Indian people preferred to wrap themselves with cotton fabrics due to the flexibility it allowed and the hot climate. The garment has evolved over time, and it is worn by an estimated 75% of Indian women every day.

10. Lehenga Choli

The cradle of the Lehenga Choli is in the regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Kutch. The dress is a long, cut and flared skirt. The skirt is paired with the choli a blouse tightly fitted at the waist. The garment is made in various colors and shades and its design heavily borrows from the Mogul culture. The outfit is characterized by intricate and exquisite embroidery and it is most commonly worn in weddings and festivals. The lehenga choli is often accompanied with a chunri that is a long piece of bright and colorful cloth, often bordered with lace, that is wrapped around the head and trails down the back, similar to a veil worn in Chrisitan weddings.

9. Salwar Kameez And Churidar

The Salwar Kameez and Churidar ensemble started off as a comfortable and decent wear for Indian women in Punjab and Kashmir. It is today one of the most commonly worn female dress among the traditional dresses in India. The outfit consists of pajama-like trousers called salwar, which is made tight at the waist and ankles. A kameez, which is a long and loose-fitting dress, is worn over the salwar. A churidar may be worn in place of the salwar and fits more tightly at the waist, hips and ankles. Fashion designers, through the use of appealing designs, embroidery and textures have made this outfit incredibly popular in India.

8. Panche or Lungi

The Panche or Lungi is a long piece of fabric wrapped around the waist which is one of the most popular among the traditional dresses of India. The Lungi is mainly made from cotton and on occasion, it can be sewn to mimic a tube shape. The garment is worn by both men and women, mostly in informal occasions and it is very colorful and flowery. In the above picture, Punjabi bhangra dancers dance to the beats of Punjabi music wearing a lungi as the lower garment.

Dhoti garment is the traditional dress for Indian men. The dhoti is a long unstitched garment, mostly 5 yards in length. The clothing is tied at the waist and ankles, with a knot at the waist. The dhoti is mostly paired with the kurta, the combination which is known as dhoti kurta in eastern India. The dhoti is also paired with an angavastram in the south. The ensemble is regarded both as formal and informal wear and has evolved over time to become an elegant cultural symbol. The famous Indian freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi always wore a dhoti on all public occasions, popularizing this attire beyond the Indian borders.

6. Bandhgala

The Bandhgala is also referred to as Jodhpuri, and it is a traditional Indian suit worn by men. The suit is known as Jodhpur since it originated from the state of Jodhpur during the British occupation. The suit is a western style coat and trouser, but with Indian embroidery and design. Sometimes the ensemble incorporates a vest. The suit’s jacket is mostly characterized by embroidered buttons and a lining at the collar. Considered to be a fashionable option among the traditional dresses of India, the suit is worn both to formal and informal occasions, and it is widely portrayed in Bollywood films.

5. Angarkha

The Angarkha was an old Indian court outfit, famous for its flexibility and ease. The costume consists of an upper garment which overlaps and can either be tied on the right or left shoulder. The garment can either be extended or cut short and can be worn over tops or jackets. The clothing is characterized by a round-edged triangular opening on the front side and the inner panel, referred to as the parda, covers the chest area and is visible through the opening. The garment’s design, cut, and texture vary with region, and it is most popular in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

4. Achkan/Sherwani

Achkan is a traditional knee-length jacket worn in India. The garment was a medieval court wear for men, and it has evolved over time to become contemporary wear. The Achkan has a frontal opening and side openings, which were traditionally tied with strings. Achkan incorporates Indian embroidery, and it is mostly won with either churidar or dhoti. The garment is used for both formal and informal settings although it is commonly seen in weddings and other celebrations.

The Jama outer garment was popularized during the Mughal Empire. The garment’s shape mimics a tunic, and it has a tight bodice and a skirt which flares out from the waist. The Jama has long sleeves and the ties are fastened under the armpit. The garment’s ends are decorated differently from the rest of the fabric. Less popular among the traditional dresses in India, the Jama is mostly worn in Kutch region of Gujarat and Rajasthan where it has been modified over the years to different forms of garments.

2. Headgear

Headgear in India encompasses a broad range of pieces, from small to large to plain and ostentatious. The most famous headgear in India is the turban, which is made from cloth winding. The turban is worn by men and represents respect and honor. Different styles of the turban are worn in various regions such as Pheta turban in Maharashtra and Peshawari turban in Peshawar. The Nehru topi is also a favorite headgear to complete a traditional ensemble.

1. Dressing In Modern India

Globalization and westernization are influencing contemporary dressing in India. While Saree has long been the most popular dress for women in India, women are opting for the less-conservative salwar kameez and churidar. Other women have embraced western garments such as skirts and jeans. Men in India, especially the working class, reserve the traditional clothing for informal occasions and are more often than not in Western outfits such as suits, jeans, and t-shirts.

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Indian clothing’s: essay on clothing’s in india.

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Indian Clothing’s: Essay on Clothing’s in India!

The ancient origin of two of the most characteristic garments of modem India, the dhoti worn by men and the sari worn by women, is verifiable in sculptured reliefs as far back as the 2nd century BC. Both men and women are pictured wearing a long piece of cloth wrapped around the hips and drawn between the legs in such a fashion that it forms a series of folds down the front.

The upper bodies of both men and women were unclothed, though women wore a narrow cloth girdle around the waist. Men are pictured wearing large turbans, women with head scarves that fall to the hips. Women also wore a great amount of jewellery—bracelets, anklets, and girdles—but men’s ornaments consisted solely of bracelets.

No major change in costume appears to have been made until the 12th century, when the Muslims conquered northern and central India. In this part of the subcontinent, radical new dress styles were adopted to conform to Muslim practice, which required that the body be covered as completely as possible.

Women’s garments, dictated by the Muslim conquerors, consisted of wide-topped trousers snugly fitted around the calves of the legs, a long shirt like garment, and a short, fitted outer jacket. During the reign of Akbar, Rajput influence made changes in costumes worn even by the Muslim women.

This costume consisted of an open- front pleated skirt, or ghaghra , worn with a long apron like panel over the front opening, and a short-sleeved, breast-length blouse called a choli. The ghaghra and choli continue to be basic elements of women’s dress. The Sari was worn with one end draped around the hips, the other carried up over the shoulder or head.

Clothing in southern India was little affected by Muslim rule in the north. The dhoti continued to be worn by most Hindu men and the sari by women. Some additions to these traditional costumes have been adopted. Most Hindu women wear a short choli-style blouse under a sari or with a long skirt under a loose waist-length bodice.

We have seen that clothing has undergone changes depending on a wide variety of factors. In our country an extensive variety of clothing exists for reason geographical, historical, cultural and economic. Climatic conditions have determined exclusive clothing patterns in places like Kashmir or Kerala.

Clothing patterns have remained uninfluenced by Islamic traditions in the southern parts of the country which remained relatively free from invasions from across the border. Clothing in the north eastern regions remains true to its cultural traditions.

Wherever interactions with British rule were very close, people opted for Western style clothing. Clothing has also been influenced by people’s occupations. The fisher women tie their Saree very differently from how the aristocrat, well to do or the elite women do in parts of north India.

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HISTORY OF CLOTHING IN ANCIENT INDIA

Clothing has been an integral part of people’s daily life, offering insight into society. The transition in costumes, designs, and patterns reflect the political, cultural, and social changes that may have occurred during the period. Given the vast geographical and climatic area of the Indian subcontinent and the diversity of ethnic groups, a range of cloth and materials have been used by people. Along with these factors, cross-cultural interaction and economic-political changes during different periods have led to greater complexity and variety in clothing styles. This essay traces the history of clothing in India from 2500 BCE to the 6th century CE.

The earliest evidence of clothing in the Indian subcontinent is found in the Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1900 BCE) . Contrary to popular perception, sewing was widely popular in Ancient India. Evidence of needles and spindle whorls found at Harappan sites suggest spinning and weaving activities.

A variety of unstitched garments can be observed from the artefacts found at these sites. Men have been depicted wearing an unstitched lower garment or loin cloth while the women can be seen wearing short skirts or closed-fitted tunics. The peepal tree seal from Mohenjo-daro depicts women with tight-fitted skirts.

Peepal tree seal, Mohenjo-Daro, Indus Valley Civilization. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

The Priest-King, Mohenjo-Daro, Indus Valley Civilization. Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

The Priest-King figure found at Mohenjo-daro wears a robe over his left shoulder with motifs that have holes suggesting that stone or coloured faience may have been embedded there.

The first written evidence of clothing is found in the Vedic period (1500-600 BCE) . The Rigveda mentions two garments, vasa (lower garment) and adhivasa  (upper garment). Later texts further mention the use of nivi   (an undergarment). Gradually other clothes like atkal (a woven and well-fitted garment), drapi (mantle or cloak), and pesas  (an embroidered garment) which was commonly worn by female dancers, also find their mention in the vedic texts.

Yet another important source from early ancient India is in the form of the literature from the Sangam Age (3rd century BCE-3rd century CE) . Sangam literature refers to the earliest available Tamil literature. The Sangam age flourished under the patronage of a famous south Indian kingdom known as the Pandyas. These works are believed to have been composed in three symposiums held at Then Madurai (an ancient city), Kapadapuram  (capital of the ancient Pandyan kingdom) and Madurai respectively. During the Sangam age, cotton and possibly silk had both acquired a high level of expertise in spinning and weaving. Women worked as part-time spinners. The Sangam literature frequently makes reference to the weaving of intricate designs on silk and cotton. In the Sangam poems, cotton fabric is described as being so delicately woven that the eye cannot trace the thread's path. Metaphors like ‘a cloud of steam’ or ‘a snake's slough’ have also been used to describe the cotton fabric in these poems. It mentions that scissors and needles were used to cut hair and make clothes. Another text known as the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century-3rd century CE) states that Uraiyur (capital of the early Cholas) was a significant hub for cotton trade.

For the Mauryan period, (320-185 BCE) we find mention of costumes in literary and sculptural sources. The Arthashastra of Kautilya mentions that threads ( sutras ), coats ( varma ), cloth ( vastra ), and ropes ( rajju ) were manufactured by the weaving department. The contemporary accounts of travellers Arrian (2nd century BCE-2nd century CE) and Megasthenes (350-290 BCE) , also shed light on costumes and materials used during this period. These accounts observed that the people wore cotton clothes and muslin garments. The upper garment was partly thrown over the shoulders and partly twisted around the waist, while the lower garment hung down to the knees. The robes were worked in gold and ornamented with precious stones.

For the Mauryan-Shunga period (320-73 BCE) , sculptures from Bharhut and Sanchi are also important sources to study different costumes worn by people. The lower garment of men was tucked in the waist at the and taken to the back like a dhoti,  which had varying lengths. It was sometimes fastened with a kamarband .

For women, the lower garment comprised of a piece of cloth where the outer edge was gathered into stiff folds of equal length. Both men and women rarely wore an upper garment. However, in some cases, women are shown with a thin bodice-like garment.

Railing pillar depicting Maha Umagga Jataka, Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh, 2nd-1st century BCE

Moreover, some of the earliest visual evidence of men and women wearing stitched garments comes from the Bharhut and Sanchi figures. The figures of charioteers and soldiers among others can be seen wearing a full-sleeve tunic, kilt, kamarband , and boots. Some bhikkhunis (Buddhist nuns) portrayed in the railings of Bharhut have been shown with a skirt like garment as well.

A Male figure, Sanchi Stupa No. 2, Madhya Pradesh, 2nd-1st century BCE

The rock cut monuments of Udayagiri and Khandagiri show examples of costume and domestic life as reflected in the clothes and ornaments of ancient Odisha. These caves date back to the Mahameghavahana dynasty (1st century BCE) , of which Kharvela was the most prominent ruler. The chief costume continued to be a dhoti , often diaphanous, tied with a waistband, with the folds of its ends dangling in front. In certain instances, scarves were also used by both men and women. The kings are shown with dhotis , reaching the ankles, while the attendants have been depicted with a short piece of loin cloth, folded just above the knees.

The dvarpala (doorkeeper) in cave 6 at Udayagiri, is seen wearing a simple dhoti , with the pleated ends hanging in front and held to the waist with a kamarband . A part of the kamarband is arranged in a fan shape on either side of the waist.

Doorkeeper, Udayagiri cave, Odisha, 1st century BCE Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

Figure, Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, Odisha, 1st century BCE Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

Another figure found at Rani-Gumpha cave, is wearing a kilted garment, with a tunic fastened at the waist reaching the knees. The figure is also wearing a chadar or scarf thrown diagonally over the body.

The costume of women shown in the figures of queens, dancers, and bracket figures among others show the use of a short loin cloth, covering the lower body. In some images, this is sometimes tied with kamarbands , while the upper body remains bare. Another lower garment is a band of cloth tied around the waist, with folded ends distinctively visible. This was then fastened with a girdle. Some figures are seen with scarves, which were draped over the shoulders, falling on the sides gracefully.

Dvarpala , Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, Mid-1st century BCE-3rd century CE

In Peninsular India, the stupas of Amaravati dating back to the Satavahana period (mid-1st century BCE-3rd century CE)  offer examples from this period. Men are seen wearing a small loin cloth, tucked at the waist and reaching above the ankles. They also wear a waistband or kamarband with fanciful knots, usually falling on the left hip. The kamarband in this period becomes thicker and bolder compared to the previous centuries.

In the Kushana period (1st century-3rd century CE) , more people took to stitched clothing. The adoption of the long-sleeved, knee-length tunic and coat tied with a girdle, or a buckled belt shows nomadic and foreign influences. The stone figure of Kanishka , the Kushana ruler, found at Mathura is seen wearing a close-fitted tunic and a long open coat.

Headless statue of Kanishka, ruler of Kushana dynasty, 1st-2nd Century CE

Birth of Siddhartha, Loriyan Tangai, Gandhara, 2nd century CE

Gandhara, situated in the North-western part of the ancient Indian subcontinent, became a prominent centre of art during the Kushana period. The sculptures from this region show Greco-Roman influences in clothing. The men at Gandhara are seen wearing loin cloth or dhoti with a mass of folds, along with a cloak or chadar , which was a piece of cloth draped in a variety of ways.

It was sometimes thrown across one or both shoulders, allowed to fall over an arm, or with one end hanging at the back or front. The women wore tunic-like garments on the upper body and wrapped a cloth around their lower body, which was sometimes thrown over the shoulders.

Monks and nuns wore different types of clothing including the samghati (undergarment), uttarasanga (upper garment), and antaravasaka (inner garment). The images of Buddha and Bodhisattvas from Mathura and Gandhara depict them in a cloth that was draped in folds around their body and covered one or both shoulders.

Standing Buddha, Gandhara, 2nd-3rd century CE

Buddha in abhayamudra under Bodhi Tree, 30-375 CE

Another set of sculptural evidence comes from Nagarjunakonda (3rd century-4th century CE) , located in Andhra Pradesh. The men, including kings are seen wearing a lower garment, which in a majority of instances is a sort of tight breech or loin cloth, with an upper garment ( uttariya ) in some cases. They wore transparent loin cloths with scarves and kamarbands which were knotted gracefully in different ways. The knots had different names, as mentioned in Cullavagga , a Buddhist text. For instance, dedubhaka was a knot shaped like a water serpent’s hood, kalavuka was a waistband made of many strings plaited together.

Evidence of stitched garments are also seen in the images of princes, soldiers, ministers, etc. In the panel depicting the Ghata Jataka , Prince Upasagara, is seen wearing a long-sleeved tunic that is round at the neck and fastened at the waist with a scarf. He is also wearing an upper garment that runs across the chest, coils around the left shoulder, and falls back. This was usually worn with a lower garment, which was either a dhoti (loin cloth) or a trouser.

A panel depicting Ghata Jataka , Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh, 2nd-3rd century CE Image source: The Buddhist Antiquities of Nagarjunakonda, Madras Presidency by A.H. Longhurst, 1999

A couple, Nagarjunakonda, Andhra Pradesh, 2nd-3rd century CE

The costumes of women are seen in depictions of queen, female attendants, chauri bearers, etc., which were also not very different from their male counterparts. They wore a simple loin cloth, along with a scarf or a kamarband around the waist. The kamarband of females too was tied in various fashions, with loops on the sides.

During the Gupta period (4th century-6th century CE) , textiles became richer, and stitched garments began to be widely used. Men wore a dhoti or loin cloth, and sometimes covered their upper body with a coat or tunic that reached up to the knees. They also wore a broad kamarband or waistband and a narrow scarf that was draped over the chest.

In the archer type gold coin of the Gupta ruler Chandragupta , he can be seen wearing a well-fitted, half-sleeved coat with pointed ends and a kamarband with an elaborate loop. He is also wearing a lower garment, gathered at the bottom.

Archer type coin of Chandragupta, the Gupta ruler, 4th Century CE

The cave paintings at Ajanta (2nd century BCE–6th century CE) located in Maharashtra and Bagh (4th century–6thcentury CE) located in Madhya Pradesh, show a variety of costumes worn by people of different professions and walks of life.

Painting in Cave 17, Ajanta caves, Maharashtra, 5th century CE

At Ajanta, in Cave 17, the prince riding a horse is seen wearing a full sleeved tunic and short dhoti with a kamarband . The nobles are also seen wearing kanchuka , a tunic-like garment, and varabana , probably a full sleeved padded coat.

In a painting in the Bagh caves, portraying a cavalcade of at least 17 horsemen, men can be seen wearing long sleeved tunics of different colours like blue, yellow, ochre and green, reaching halfway down the thigh.

Painting portraying a cavalcade of at least 17 horsemen, Bagh caves, Madhya Pradesh, 6th-7th century CE Image source: The Bagh Caves in the Gwalior state by John Marshall, 1927

Painting in Cave 1 depicting the story of King Janaka, Ajanta caves, Maharashtra, 5th century CE

The costume of kings shown in these caves included a striped loin cloth or dhoti , sometimes complemented with a scarf. The costumes of soldiers included dhoti (loin cloth) or tunics with trousers or shorts.

In some images, women are seen wearing sewn garments, like bodices of thin material, patterned tunics, and robes. The dancer in Mahajanaka Jataka painted in Cave 1 in Ajanta, is seen wearing a skirt marked with purple, green, and yellow stripes and a long-sleeved tunic or upper garment, which covers the front while the back appears to be bare. In the same painting, the woman behind the drum is wearing a striped breast band tied at the back, with a short skirt.

Another painting at Bagh also depicts a group of seven female musicians around a central figure. The central figure is wearing a peculiar costume which is a long-sleeved tunic with white dots and a broad flat kind of collar with striped trousers. The tunic is reaching the knees. One of the musicians shown on the left can be seen wearing a short sleeve bodice of blue colour while the other is only wearing a striped lower garment which is white, blue, and green in colour.

Painting portraying female musicians, Bagh caves, Madhya Pradesh, 6th-7th century CE Image source: The Bagh Caves in the Gwalior state by John Marshall, 1927

Both Banabhatta (7th century Sanskrit prose writer) and Kalidasa (5th century Sanskrit poet and dramatist) mention the different costumes worn by women, including gatika (shawl) tied on breasts, kancuka (tunic), candataka (petticoat), and  dukula (sari covering only the lower body) in their accounts. Mention of lower garments with striped patterns, ghaghri (chequered skirt) and a dhoti worn in a manner where its end is pulled between the legs and tucked at the waistband is also found in their accounts. In his writing, Banabhatta has also referred to tunics which sometimes imitated tiger skins. Hieun Tsang (629–645 CE) , a Chinese traveller wrote in his account that men and women wore striped cloth which was manufactured in Mathura. These descriptions can be easily observed in the clothing depicted in the paintings at the Ajanta and Bagh caves.

The examples taken in this essay, right from the emergence of the first urban centres to the various textual sources, including the intricate cave paintings help in understanding a great deal about the ancient Indian society. The history of ancient India is thus rich with representations that showcase the  development and progress in clothing traditions.

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• A Brief History Of Indias...

A Brief History Of India’s Traditional Saree

At more than 5,000 years of existence, the Indian saree is considered to be among the oldest form of garment in the world still in existence. The Vedas – among the oldest literature composed by mankind – mentions it, and records from the Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1300 B.C.E.) also indicate its usage at the time. Yet it being ancient has in no way impacted its popularity. Still ubiquitous – on ramps at leading fashion shows, in bollywood, on streets of rural and urban India, on hip college students and their conservative grandmothers – the saree is as entrenched in our culture as it ever was. The unstitched single piece of cloth evolved due to ancient Hindu belief that stitching cloth made it impure. And so the four-and-a-half to eight meters of cloth – draped around the lower body and then with a tactful pleating process folded across the upper body – came to be appropriate attire. The saree is considered to have been evolved from a three-piece-attire consisting of unstitched stretches of cloth draped as a lower garment, a chest band and a piece worn over ones shoulder or head. This predecessor of the saree is mentioned in ancient Sanksrit literature dating to the 6th century B.C.E. Even lehengas , ghagras and cholis are considered to have their roots in this attire.

With its ability to be warming in winter, and cooling in summer, its professional and aesthetically stylish appearance yet its utility (for example, it can be folded and tucked to be shorter), the saree developed to be the most suitable attire for South Asian women. This is precisely the reason it is donned by politicians and farm-workers alike.

While there exists a professional or classical style of draping a saree, there are more than 80 variations of it across the subcontinent. There’s the pleatless Bengali and Odia styles, the Kodagu style saree which is a back to front version of the classic style, the two-piece Malayali version, and so on. Variations also exist depending on the kind of fabric, as well as on methods of weaving that have been used. Hence there are the tie-dye Bandhani sarees, Chanderi cotton sarees and the numerous silk saree varieties including the Kanchipuram, Banarasi and Mysore sarees.

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Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition 1000+ Words

Indian culture and tradition, akin to a captivating mosaic, are comprised of myriad vibrant components that constitute the nation’s multifaceted heritage. With deep historical roots, they are commemorated through various avenues such as festivals, art forms, and daily customs. As we embark on this essay, we will delve into the profound essence and importance of Indian culture and tradition. This exploration will encompass their distinctive attributes, their societal significance, and their enduring pertinence.

Diversity in Unity

Indian culture and tradition are renowned for their diversity. India is home to a multitude of languages, religions, cuisines, and customs. Despite this diversity, there is a strong sense of unity that binds the nation together.

Historical Significance

India’s culture and traditions have evolved over thousands of years. The Indus Valley Civilization, the Vedas, and the teachings of ancient sages have all played a role in shaping the culture we see today.

Festivals and Celebrations

India is known for its vibrant festivals, such as Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, and more. These celebrations bring people together, fostering a sense of unity and joy.

Cultural Art Forms

Indian culture finds expression in various art forms such as classical dance, including Bharatanatyam and Kathak, as well as music, encompassing Carnatic and Hindustani traditions, and theater. Furthermore, these art forms boast a rich historical heritage and persistently flourish in contemporary times.

Traditional Clothing

Indian clothing is a reflection of culture and tradition. Attire like the saree, dhoti, and kurta are not just clothing items but symbols of identity.

Expert Opinions

Cultural scholars like Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan emphasize the role of culture in shaping society and providing a sense of identity. They believe that culture is a dynamic force that evolves with time.

Spiritual Practices

Religion and spirituality play a significant role in Indian culture. Practices like meditation, yoga, and visiting temples or mosques are common ways for individuals to connect with their spirituality.

Traditional Medicine

Ayurveda, India’s traditional system of medicine, has been practiced for centuries. It emphasizes holistic well-being and natural healing methods.

Family Values

Indian culture places a strong emphasis on family values. Respect for elders, strong family bonds, and the concept of joint families are integral to Indian society.

Conclusion of Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition

In conclusion, Indian culture and tradition, as a testament to the country’s rich history, diversity, and unity, provide a sense of identity and belonging to millions of people. Moreover, as India continues to evolve in the modern world, it is crucial to preserve and celebrate these cultural treasures. By valuing diversity, promoting cultural exchange, and passing on traditions to future generations, we can ensure that Indian culture and tradition continue to thrive and enrich the lives of all who embrace them. Consequently, India’s cultural heritage is a source of pride and inspiration, forming a tapestry of traditions that we must cherish and protect for generations to come.

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Indian Culture and Tradition Essay | Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Indian Culture and Tradition Essay:  Indian Culture and Traditions are unique across the world. The Indian Culture and Traditions Essay elaborated on the variety of traditions and cultures followed by people in India. India is a country of having many cultures, traditions, and religions that made people living in a peaceful, colorful, rich, and diverse nation. It is unbelievable that different directions of India like north, south, east, and west have their own cultures and traditions.

India is having 29 states and 7 union territories across all the directions. There are 22 languages and several religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, etc. exist in India. Whereas Hindi is the official language of India. However, India is the oldest civilization where people still follow their old cultures of caring and humanity. Even though people became modern in today’s world, still they celebrate festivals as per the customs.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Long and Short Essays on Indian Culture and Tradition for Students and Kids in English

Indian culture is famous across the world due to its diversity in music, art, dance, language, cuisine, costume, philosophy, and literature. The important characteristics of Indian Culture are civilized communication, beliefs, values, etiquette, and rituals. India is well known for its ‘Unity in Diversity’ across the world. That means India is a diverse nation where many religious people live together peacefully having their own different cultures. So, we can see people of different languages, dresses, food habits, and rituals living with unity in India.

Long Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition 500 Words in English

A Long Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition Essay will be helpful for students in classes 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Indian Culture and Religion

Indian Religion has a great impact on shaping the culture and traditions of India. India has several religions that originated five thousand years ago. Hinduism originated from Vedas, so all Hindu scriptures have been scripted in the Sanskrit language. People believe that Jainism has an ancient origin and exists in the Indus valley. Whereas another religion, Buddhism originated through the teachings of Gautam Buddha in the country. There are various eras that came and gone but have not changed the influence of real culture. That is why the younger generations still follow the older generation’s culture.

However, Indian ethnic culture teaches people to care for the helpless, help poor people, and respect elders. The traditional aspect of India to greet anybody is by saying ‘Namaste’ and touching the elder’s feet. The traditional family structure in India is a joint family, where many generations stay together in one house. People in India still follow the traditional marriage concept of ‘Arranged Marriage’ where the life partner of a child will be chosen by their parents.

Art is also one of the special cultures of India. Each state of India has its own form of dancing and singing such as Kathakali, Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, and so forth. Moreover, Indian people welcome their guests like God by following the great Indian culture. People believe in the popular saying that ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. Therefore, humanity and spiritual practices are the roots of Indian culture.

Indian Festivals

Festivals play an important role in Indian culture and tradition. People from different religions celebrate different festivals in India. Popular festivals like Diwali, Dussehra, Navratri, Janmashtami, Shivratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. are celebrated by Hindu people in India. Whereas Eid-ul-Fitr, Bakrid, Muharram, etc. festivals are celebrated by Islamic people in India. Other than this, many harvest festivals like Makar Sankranti, Chapchar kut, Pongal, Sohrai, etc. are celebrated by farmers.

However, Christians also celebrate Christmas, Good Friday, etc. festivals in India. There also exist different regional festivals in each state of India like Teej, Onam, Ugadi, Saraswati Puja, Panna Sankranti, Chhath Pooja, Pongal, Lohri, and so forth.

Indian Cuisine

Indian Cuisine is also equally diverse in India like festivals and religions. Indian food and eating habits differ from place to place as each state has its own particular food and eating habits. In other words, people belonging to various parts of the country have their own cuisine, living style, environment, and availability of goods. Indian cuisine is most inspirational. Different states have different cuisines. Indian foods include so many ingredients and are more influential across the world. Indian food is mainly influenced by the diversity of people, so it has a variety of rich Cuisine. North Indian food includes vegetables, roti, dal, rice, fish curry, parathas, etc. South Indian food includes dosa, sambar, idli, vada, upma, uttapam, etc. In general, South Indian people cook food using coconut oil rather than mustard or sunflower oil.

Short Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition 300 Words in English

A Short Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition will be helpful for students in classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Indian Costume

Indian Costumes are different for the different states of India. It varies depending on the origin, climate, and heritage of the place. Indian culture still follows traditional costumes. In eastern states such as Odisha, West Bengal and southern states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, women wear saree as the authentic clothing. It is a single and long fabric piece draped around the body.

In a similar way, men wear Dhoti-Kurta or Kurta-Pyjama as the authentic clothing in eastern states. In northern states like Punjab, women wear salwar kameez and Kurti as traditional clothing. Whereas men wear headgear or turban known as the Dastar as the traditional clothing. In India, all the married Women wear Sindoor, a vermilion powder in the parting of their hair. They also wear bindi, Mehendi, bangles, and earrings as part of their attire.

Indian Literature

In the 19th century, the first literature Rigveda was created in India. It was written in Sanskrit and became the foundation of many religious scriptures and literary works laterwards. Also, the Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda written by the Aryans followed by Indians. Other famous literary works are Ramayana written by Rishi Valmiki and Mahabharata written by Rishi Vyasa in India.

The Biographies of kings like the Mughal Empire, Baburnama, and Akbarnama are also precious literature by which we can know about the era. Other than this, foreign travelers have written some scriptures like Fa Hein and Hussein Tsung which provide knowledge about Indian people’s traditions and lifestyles.

Conclusion on Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

India is a land of rich culture and tradition which teaches people kindness, generosity, and tolerance. Indian culture differs from place to place as it is a multilingual, multicultural, and multi-ethnic society. Indian culture is a unique blend of modern western culture and historical traditions. India is a country of great legends where many great people were born and remembered forever due to their sacrifice for the nation. People across the world come to enjoy and feel the culture and tradition of India.

FAQ’s on Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

Question 1. What are Tradition and Culture?

Answer: Tradition is the customs and beliefs which are followed by people of one generation to another. Whereas culture is the customs, values, and social behavior within a group or society.

Question 2. What is the importance of Indian culture?

Answer:  Indian Culture is unique across the world. India is well known for its ‘Unity in Diversity’ across the world. That means India is a diverse nation where many religious people live together peacefully having their own different cultures. So, we can see people of different languages, dresses, food habits, and rituals living with unity in India. Indian culture is famous across the world due to its diversity in music, art, dance, language, cuisine, costume, philosophy, and literature.

Question 3. What is Indian Tradition?

Answer:  The traditional aspect of India is to greet anybody by saying ‘Namaste’ and touching the elder’s feet. The traditional family structure in India is a joint family, where many generations stay together in one house. People in India still follow the traditional marriage concept of ‘Arranged Marriage’ where the life partner of a child will be chosen by their parents.

Question 4. What is the food culture of India?

Answer: Indian food culture differs from place to place as each state has its own particular food and eating habits. Indian foods include so many ingredients and are more influential across the world. North Indian food includes vegetables, roti, dal, rice, fish curry, parathas, etc. South Indian food includes dosa, sambar, idli, vada, upma, uttapam, etc. In general, South Indian people cook food using coconut oil rather than mustard or sunflower oil.

Question 5. What are the important characteristics of Indian Culture?

Answer:  The important characteristics of Indian Culture are civilized communication, beliefs, values, etiquette, and rituals.

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Essay on Indian Culture for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indian culture.

India is a country that boasts of a rich culture. The culture of India refers to a collection of minor unique cultures. The culture of India comprises of clothing, festivals, languages, religions, music, dance, architecture, food, and art in India. Most noteworthy, Indian culture has been influenced by several foreign cultures throughout its history. Also, the history of India’s culture is several millennia old.

Components of Indian Culture

First of all, Indian origin religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism . All of these religions are based on karma and dharma. Furthermore, these four are called as Indian religions. Indian religions are a major category of world religions along with Abrahamic religions.

Also, many foreign religions are present in India as well. These foreign religions include Abrahamic religions. The Abrahamic religions in India certainly are Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Besides Abrahamic religions, Zoroastrianism and Bahá’í Faith are the other foreign religions which exist in India. Consequently, the presence of so many diverse religions has given rise to tolerance and secularism in Indian culture.

The Joint family system is the prevailing system of Indian culture . Most noteworthy, the family members consist of parents, children, children’s spouses, and offspring. All of these family members live together. Furthermore, the eldest male member is the head of the family.

Arranged marriages are the norm in Indian culture. Probably most Indians have their marriages planned by their parents. In almost all Indian marriages, the bride’s family gives dowry to bridegroom. Weddings are certainly festive occasions in Indian culture. There is involvement of striking decorations, clothing, music, dance, rituals in Indian weddings. Most noteworthy, the divorce rates in India are very low.

India celebrates a huge number of festivals. These festivals are very diverse due to multi-religious and multi-cultural Indian society. Indians greatly value festive occasions. Above all, the whole country joins in the celebrations irrespective of the differences.

Traditional Indian food, arts, music, sports, clothing, and architecture vary significantly across different regions. These components are influenced by various factors. Above all, these factors are geography, climate, culture, and rural/urban setting.

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Perceptions of Indian Culture

Indian culture has been an inspiration to many writers. India is certainly a symbol of unity around the world. Indian culture is certainly very complex. Furthermore, the conception of Indian identity poses certain difficulties. However, despite this, a typical Indian culture does exist. The creation of this typical Indian culture results from some internal forces. Above all, these forces are a robust Constitution, universal adult franchise, secular policy , flexible federal structure, etc.

Indian culture is characterized by a strict social hierarchy. Furthermore, Indian children are taught their roles and place in society from an early age. Probably, many Indians believe that gods and spirits have a role in determining their life. Earlier, traditional Hindus were divided into polluting and non-polluting occupations. Now, this difference is declining.

Indian culture is certainly very diverse. Also, Indian children learn and assimilate in the differences. In recent decades, huge changes have taken place in Indian culture. Above all, these changes are female empowerment , westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy , improved education, etc.

To sum it up, the culture of India is one of the oldest cultures in the World. Above all, many Indians till stick to the traditional Indian culture in spite of rapid westernization. Indians have demonstrated strong unity irrespective of the diversity among them. Unity in Diversity is the ultimate mantra of Indian culture.

FAQs on Indian Culture

Q1 What are the Indian religions?

A1 Indian religions refer to a major category of religion. Most noteworthy, these religions have their origin in India. Furthermore, the major Indian religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Q2 What are changes that have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades?

A2 Certainly, many changes have taken place in Indian culture in recent decades. Above all, these changes are female empowerment, westernization, a decline of superstition, higher literacy, improved education, etc.

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• Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

Essay on Indian Culture and Tradition

As students grow older, it is important for them to improve their understanding and hold over the language. This can be done only through consistent reading and writing. Writing an essay is a task that involves cooperation and coordination of both the mind and body. Students must be able to think as well reproduce their thoughts effectively without any confusion. This is important when it comes to writing answers and other important documents as ones go to higher classes. The art of writing effectively and efficiently can be improved by students through writing essays. To help students in this domain, Vedantu provides students with numerous essays. Students can go through the same and learn the correct manner of writing the essay. 

Indian Culture and Tradition

India enjoys a wide variety of cultural and traditional presence amongst the 28 states. Indian origin religions Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism are all based on dharma and karma. Even, India is a blessed holy place which is also a native place for most of the religions. Recently, Muslim and Christianity also practised working amongst the whole India population. The pledge also added the line, ‘India is my country, and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.’  

Indians are great with cooking; their spices are special for medicinal purposes, so visitors are difficult to adjust to with such heavy spices. The cricketers touring Indian pitches are out due to such food. Frequently, it's been observed that the sportsperson arrived in India either with cooking skills or with a cook. Spices such as cumin, turmeric and cardamom have been used for a long period, to make the dishes more delicious and nutritional. Wheat, rice and pulses help to complete the meal. The majority of the population is a vegetarian one due to their religious aspects.

Talking about the language, India is blessed with a wide range of languages used. Each state has its own language. A major part of the state is unable to speak other languages than the native one. Gujrathi, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi, Telugu and many more are the representative languages of the respective state. It's easy to recognize the person with the language he spoke. There are 15 regional languages but almost all of them Hindi is the national language of the country. Sanskrit is considered an ancient and respected language. And most of the legendary holy texts are found in Sanskrit only. Along with these, most of the people are aware of plenty of foreign languages. 

Indian clothing is adorable to most of the foreigners. Woman wearing a sari is the pride of a nation. These create a pleasant effect and she looks so beautiful that a majority of foreign country’s female want to be like her. The origin of the sari is from the temple dancers in ancient times. Sari allows them to maintain modesty and freedom of movement. On the other hand, men traditionally wear a dhoti and kurta. Actually, Dhoti is a type of cloth without any further attached work done on it. The great Mahatma Gandhi was very fond of it and in their dignity, most of the people used to wear the same. 

Apart from all the above facts, Indians are legends with arts and studious material. Shah-rukh Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Dhirubhai Ambani, Amitabh Bachchan Rajnikant, Sundar Pichai are many more faces of India who are shining and representing India on a global scale. There are 20-30 grand festivals celebrated every year in which every festival pops up with history and respect to the respective religion. Even in terms of business, India is not behind. Agriculture is the best occupation of 70% of people in India. It’s our duty to protect the wonderful culture that we have. 

Indian culture is one of the oldest and most unique cultures known across the globe. It has various kinds of traditional values, religion, dance, festivals, music, and cloth, which varies from each state or town even. Indian art, cuisine, religion, Literature, Education, Heritage, Clothes etc has a huge impact on the whole world where everyone admires and follows it. It is known as the land of cultural diversity.  India thrives on a variety of languages, religions, and cultures due to the diverse race of people living in the country. It can be referred to as one of the world’s most culturally enriched countries. When one thinks of India, they picture colors, smiling faces of children running in the streets, bangle vendors, street food, music, religious festivals etc. 

Religion 

India is a land where different religious beliefs are followed. It is the land of many religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism.  Four Indian religions namely Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, and Buddhism were born in India while others are not of Indian origin but have people following those faiths. The people of India keep a solid belief in religion as they believe that following a faith adds meaning and purpose to their lives as it is the way of life. The religions here are not only confined to beliefs but also include ethics, rituals, ceremonies, life philosophies and many more.

Families 

Family plays a vital role in every Indian household. Indians are known to live together as a joint family with their grandparents, uncles and aunts, and the next generation of offspring as well. The house gets passed down from family to family throughout the generations. But with the new modern age, nuclear families are starting to become more common as children go out of town into cities for work or studies and get settled there, also everyone now prefers to have their own private life without any interference. But still, the concept of family get together and family gatherings are not lost as everyone does come together frequently. 

Indian Festivals

India is well known for its traditional festivals all over the world. As it is a secular country with diversity in religions, every month some festival celebration happens. These festivals can be religious, seasonal or are of national importance. Every festival is celebrated uniquely in different ways according to their ritual as each of them has its unique importance. National festivals such as Gandhi Jayanti, Independence Day and Republic Day are celebrated by the people of India across the entire nation. Religious festivals include Diwali, Dussehra, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Zuha, Christmas, Ganesh Chaturthi, etc. All the seasonal festivals such as Baisakhi, Onam, Pongal, Bihu etc are celebrated to mark the season of harvest during two harvesting seasons, Rabi and Kharif. 

Festivals bring love, bond, cross-cultural exchange and moments of happiness among people.

Indian cuisine is known for a variety of spicy dishes, curry, rice items, sweets etc. Each cuisine includes a wide range of dishes and cooking techniques as it varies from region to region. Each region of India cooks different types of dishes using different ingredients, also food varies from every festival and culture as well. Hindus eat mostly vegetarian food items such as pulao, vegetables, daal, rajma etc whereas people from Islamic cultural backgrounds eat meat, kebabs, haleem etc. In the southernmost part of India, you will find people use a lot of coconut oil for cooking purposes, they eat a lot of rice items such as Dosa, Idli, Appam etc with Coconut chutney, sambhar.

Indian Clothing is considered to be the epitome of modesty and every style is very different in each region and state. But the two pieces of clothing that represent Indian culture are dhoti for men and saree for women. Women adorn themselves with a lot of bangles and Payal that goes around their ankles. Even clothing styles varied from different religions to regions to cultures. Muslim women preferred to wear salwar kameez whereas Christian women preferred gowns. Men mostly stuck to dhoti, lungi, shalwar and kurta.In modern days, people have changed their sense of style, men and women now wear more modern western clothes. Indian clothes are still valued but are now in more trendy and fashionable styles. 

There is no single language that is spoken all over India; however , Hindi is one common language most Indians know and can speak or understand. Every region has a different language or dialect. As per the official language act, Hindi and English are the official languages in India. Other regions or state wise languages include- Gujarati, Marathi, Bangla, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Kashmiri, Punjabi etc. 

FAQs on Indian Culture and Tradition Essay

1. What are the Popular Spices in India?

Popular spices in India include - Haldi(Turmeric), Chakri Phool(Star Anise), Til (Sesame seeds/ Gingili seeds), Saunf(Fennel Seeds), Kesar(Saffron), Laal Mirch(Red chilli), Khas(Poppy seeds), Jayphal(Nutmeg), Kalonji(Nigella Seeds), Rai/Sarson(Mustard Seeds), Pudina(Mint), Javitri(Mace), Patthar ke Phool​(Kalpasi), Kala Namak/ Sanchal/ Sanchar powder(Black salt/ Himalayan rock salt/ Pink salt), Sonth(Dry ginger powder), Methi dana(Fenugreek seeds), Suva Bhaji/ Sua Saag(Dill)

Kadi Patta(Curry Leaves), Sukha dhania(Coriander seeds), Laung(Cloves), Dalchini(Cinnamon), Sabza(Chia seeds), Chironji(Charoli), Ajwain(Carom seeds, thymol or celery seeds), Elaichi(Cardamom), Kali Mirch(Black Pepper (or White Pepper), Tej Patta(Bay Leaf), Hing(Asafoetida), Anardana(Pomegranate seeds), Amchoor(Dry mango powder)

2. What is the Language Diversity Available in India?

The Indian constitution has 22 officially recognized languages. Apart from it, there are around 60 languages that are recognized as smother tongue with more than one million speakers. India also has around 28 minor languages spoken by over one hundred thousand and one million people. Apart from these, there are numerous dialects spoken by a various sect of people based on their region of origin. 

3. Who are Some of the Most Famous Indian Celebrities Popular Across the Globe? 

India has people excelling in all aspects of art and activities. Few prominent celebrities to garner global fame include - Sudha Murthy, Amitabh Bacchan, Virat Kohli, Saina Nehwal, Sania Mirza, Priyanka Chopra, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Mohanlal, A R Rehman, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata, Narayana Murthy, Kiran Majumdar Shah, Narendra Modi, Amith Shah. all these people have received great accolades in their respective area of expertise globally and getting recognition to India on a global level. 

4. How to Improve Writing and Reading Skills for Producing Good Essays?

Writing an essay becomes a tedious task when the mind and hand do not coordinate. It is important for you to be able to harness your mental ability to think clearly and reproduce the same on paper for a good essay. Always remember the first few thoughts that you get as soon as you see an essay topic is your best and purest thoughts. Ensure to note them down. Later you can develop your essay around these points. Make sure your essay has an introduction, body and the final conclusion. This will make the reader understand the topic clearly along with your ability to convey the any information without any hesitation or mistake. 

5. How many religions are there in India? 

As of now, there are a total of 9 major religions in India with Hinduism being the majority. The remaining religion includes- Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism and the Baha'i Faith. 

6. Which is the oldest language in India? 

Indian classical oldest language is Sanskrit, it belongs to the Indo- Aryan branch of Indo- European languages. 

7. What are the few famous folk dances of India? 

Folk dances are the representation of a particular culture from where they are known to originate. Eight famous classical dances are- Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Kathakali from Kerala, Kathak from North, West and Central India, Mohiniyattam from Kerala, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh, Odissi from Odisha, Manipuri from Manipur, Sattriya from Assam. 

8. How many languages are spoken in India? 

Other than Hindi and English there are 22 languages recognised by the constitution of India. However, more than 400 languages and dialects in India are still not known as they change after every town. Over the years, about 190 languages have become endangered due to very few surviving speakers. 

9. Describe the Indian Culture. 

Indian culture is very diverse and the people of India are very warm and welcoming. They have a strong sense of family and firmly believe in unity in diversity. In India, there's a saying saying 'Atithi Devo Bhava'  means 'the guest is equivalent to god'. So if one visits India, they will never feel unwanted.

Essay on Traditional Dress

Students are often asked to write an essay on Traditional Dress in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Traditional Dress

Introduction.

Traditional dress refers to the clothing that represents a person’s cultural, social or historical background. It is a symbol of pride, identity, and heritage.

Importance of Traditional Dress

Traditional dress plays a crucial role in preserving culture. It helps in expressing unity, respect, and honor towards one’s own culture. It also provides a sense of belonging.

Variety in Traditional Dress

Every country has its unique traditional dress. For example, India has Sari, Japan has Kimono, Scotland has Kilt. These dresses reflect the diversity of world cultures.

Traditional dress is a beautiful way to celebrate and respect our cultural diversity. It’s important to preserve and promote traditional dresses for future generations.

250 Words Essay on Traditional Dress

Traditional dress, a significant facet of any culture, serves as a mirror reflecting a society’s historical background, social structure, and religious beliefs. It is a symbol of identity, pride, and continuity that binds individuals to their community.

Historical Significance

Traditional attire is deeply rooted in history. Often, it is a visual manifestation of critical historical events. For instance, the Scottish kilt is a proud symbol of resistance against English domination. Similarly, the Japanese kimono, with its intricate patterns and colors, narrates a tale of societal hierarchy and aesthetics.

Cultural Identity and Social Structure

Traditional dress is a powerful communicator of cultural identity. Each unique pattern, color, and fabric tells a story about the people who wear it. For example, the bright colors and intricate beadwork of African tribal wear signify a vibrant and diverse continent. Additionally, traditional attire often reflects social structure. The Indian saree, for instance, varies in style, fabric, and draping method across regions and social classes.

Religion and Traditional Attire

Religion significantly influences traditional dress. The Islamic hijab or the Jewish yarmulke are more than just pieces of clothing; they are profound expressions of faith and devotion.

Traditional dress, therefore, is not merely a fashion statement. It is a living testament to a community’s past, a marker of cultural identity, and a symbol of religious belief. As we move towards a globalized world, the preservation of these traditional attires is crucial to maintaining cultural diversity and understanding our shared human history.

500 Words Essay on Traditional Dress

Historical significance and symbolism.

Historically, traditional costumes were more than just clothing; they were a visual representation of a person’s social status, marital status, and even occupation. The materials used, the style of embroidery, the colors, and the accessories all told a story about the wearer. For instance, the intricate patterns on a Norwegian Bunad or the vibrant colors of an Indian Sari can convey information about the wearer’s region of origin.

Preservation of Cultural Identity

Traditional costumes play a crucial role in preserving cultural identity. They serve as a tangible connection to the past, helping to keep the spirit of a community alive. For instance, the Japanese Kimono, a symbol of elegance and tradition, is worn on special occasions to honor their cultural roots. Similarly, the Scottish Kilt, a symbol of pride and honor, is donned during ceremonial events.

Traditional Dress in the Modern World

The influence on fashion industry.

The fashion industry often draws inspiration from traditional costumes. Designers incorporate elements from various cultures into their creations, bringing a touch of tradition to contemporary fashion. For example, the Mexican rebozo has influenced the design of shawls and scarves worldwide, while the Russian babushka has inspired headwear trends.

In conclusion, traditional dress is a significant aspect of cultural heritage. It encapsulates a community’s history, values, and societal norms. Despite the influence of Western clothing, traditional costumes continue to hold their importance, serving as a symbol of cultural identity. They also influence contemporary fashion, proving that tradition and modernity can coexist harmoniously. As we move forward, it is essential to respect and preserve these pieces of our cultural heritage while also embracing the changes brought by modernity.

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Essay on the changing Indian fashion

Essay on the changing Indian fashion. Indian fashion varies from one village to another village, from one city to another city. India’s fashion heritage is rich in tradition, vibrant in colours and prepossessing. Bold colours created by the inventive drapes of the textiles catch the imagination like no other contemporary clothing.

Ancient Indian fashion garments generally used no stitching although Indians knew about sewing. Most clothes were ready to wear as soon as they left the loom. The traditional Indian Dhoti, the Scarf or Uttariya, and the popular Turban are still visible in India and continue to be part of Indian fashion. Likewise, for women, the Dhoti or die Sari as the lower garments, combined with a Stanapatta forms the basic ensemble, and once again consists of garments that do not have to be stitched, the Stanapatta being fastened in a knot at the back. And the Dhoti or the Sari worn covering both legs at the same time or, in the alternative, with one end of it passed between the legs and tucked at the back in the fashion that is still prevalent in large area of India. Indian men and women wear these garments in the usually hot Indian climate.

Indian sari remains the traditional clothing of Indian women. Worn in varied styles, it is a long piece of flat cotton, silk or other fabric woven in different textures with different patterns. The sari has a lasting charm since it is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This graceful feminine attire can also be worn in several ways and its manner of wearing as well as its colour and texture are indicative of the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is called a choli. The choli evolved as a form of Indian clothing around the tenth century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare.

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Another popular attire of women in Indian clothing is the Indian salwar-kameez. This popular Indian dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab region, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pyjama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the Salwars, women wear a long and loose tunic known as 3 kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to thesalwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and anklet

Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin collar tunic called a kurta. Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional Indian dresses, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing like shirts and trousers.

However, men in Indian villages are still more comfortable in traditional attire like kurtas, lungis, dhotis and pyjamas. Indian dresses and styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional and one is likely to witness a plethora of colours, textures and styles in garments worn by the Indians.

Nose pin is more common than a nose ring; both are symbols of purity and marriage, though today many unmarried Indian girls wear this adornment. Necklaces are very popular fashion accessories across India amongst girls and women of all ages. Necklaces are made of a variety of materials, ranging from glass beads to gold and diamonds. One special necklace is the mangalasutm, worn only by married Indian women. It is the Indian equivalent of the western wedding ring.’

Traditionally a woman wore it during her wedding ceremony and took it off only if her and Worn on the wrist, bangles are believed to Protective bands and women always wore them as symbolic guards over their husbands. As with other ornaments, bangles today are worn by women of all ages over India and are made of silver, gold, wood, glass, and plastic, among other materials.

Rings, studs and other ornaments worn in the ears are popular all over the country. In fact, a girl’s ears are usually pierced before her first birthday. Other important ornaments are finger rings, toe rings and anklets. Rings for the fingers are again, of various materials and designs and worn by unmarried and married women. Since the ring has become a common adornment, it is no longer considered a symbol in Indian marriages.

However, toe rings and anklets are still worn mostly by married women. Ornaments for the feet are usually made of silver because gold, being a ‘pure’ metal, was not supposed to be worn on the feet. This privilege was given only to women of royal Indian families.

In addition to these ornaments is the ‘mangatika’ or ‘tikli’- This ornament, worn at the top of the forehead in the parting of the hair, is usually a small pendant on the end of a chain that is clasped to the hair. Although traditionally this ornament was also worn as a symbol of marriage, today even married women do not so commonly wear it.

From the time a child is six days old, its mother applies kajal to its eyes and also a small black dot on the forehead to mar the child’s beauty. This ‘imperfection’ is said toprotect from evil. Sindoor is a dot on the forehead d woman indicating married status of Indian Women, power, and protection for her husband. The husband as part wedding ceremony applies it. Fashion in India offers several opportunities for Indian fashion designers. Indian fashion industry is growing everyday. Indian Dress Designers combine Western trends with Indian touch, creating garments, which are truly outstanding.

A Fashion designer has to be creative. They have to express their designs in sketches. They need not be an excellent artists but should be capable of combining tones, shades and colours. Dress designers need to have good imagination and an ability to think in three-dimension to translate into fashion what they can contemplate. A fashion designer has to be fashion savvy and have the knowledge and experience of elementary tailoring skills and techniques and be able to distinguish among various kinds of fabrics. Good designers are always original, experimental and inventive in designing custom made outfits and designer dresses. Designers are always experimenting with new design styles every season.

Several fashion institutes like National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Indian Institute of Fashion Technology (IIFT) and Pearl Fashion Academy have been established where students learn to translate their creativity into dresses and fabric designs. The media plays an important role in the fashion boom good coverage is provided to the fashion world and fashion events. Indian Fashion-based programmes on the electronic media are frequent. Indian fashion competing with the best in the world and have won worldwide praise.

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In case we forget that modern clothes are still a feminist act, more from designers, r29 original series.

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Bella Hadid Wears the Naked Dress to End All Naked Dresses

By Hannah Jackson

Anthony Vaccarello finally figured out how to reproduce his collection of ultra-sheer pantyhose dresses. Bella Hadid hit Cannes in look seven from the Saint Laurent fall 2024 show: a halter dress featuring 10 denier hosiery cups, a knotted pantyhose bodice, and a below-the-knee skirt with a control top hemline.

Hadid, styled by Molly Dickson, leaned into the Old Hollywood glamour that has become synonymous with the Cannes Film Festival, adding a pair of mahogany peep-toe ankle strap heels and an enormous pair of drop earrings from Chopard.

This look fits into Hadid’s latest sartorial M.O. of sheer earthy tones that can only be described as “sexy nymph.” While promoting her fragrance, Orebella, in New York, the model wore a diaphanous nude Dior slip dress by John Galliano, as well as a cream-colored Rokh dress with a lace bodice. And yesterday in Cannes, she further explored brown tones in a simple tank dress . But this look—with only some extremely well-placed seams preserving her modesty—is by far her boldest to date.

When asked about how he would manufacture these ephemeral pieces from the collection, Vaccarello told Vogue, “Don’t even ask me about production—I can’t tell you.” This being the first instance the delicate outfits have been spotted on the red carpet speaks to Hadid’s risk-taking style. Even if she is the only person who ever wears one of these sheer Saint Laurent looks out in the world (let’s see if she can make it to the end of the night without any snags) the fact that Vaccarello was readily willing to make one for her speaks to Hadid’s immense power in the fashion industry.

And if this is Hadid’s wardrobe for her first official day of events in Cannes? We can only imagine what’s to come.

More Great Fashion Stories from Vogue

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Meghan Markle’s New Look Is Taking Shape for Spring

Angelina Jolie Will Wear This Pair of Shoes Anywhere—Even a Shopping Run

Katie Holmes’s Baggy Slip Dress Is a Lazy Girl’s Shortcut to Cool

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UPSC Essays Simplified: Structure and Flow of a good essay– the third step

How to build a 'structure and flow' in a good essay our expert takes you through the third stage of writing an essay in upsc essentials' new series. don't miss the essay exercise towards the end of the article..

How to write essays for UPSC Civil Services Exams?   This is one of the most popular questions among aspirants. In UPSC Essentials’ special series  UPSC Essays Simplified , we take you through various steps of writing a good essay. While there is no set formula or fixed criteria prescribed,  Manas Srivastava  talks to  Ravi Kapoor , our expert, in this new series who guides the aspirants with a simplified framework on how to write a good essay. Don’t miss  ‘The Essay Exercise’  towards the end of the article.

Ravi Kapoor focuses on the following steps of pre-writing and writing stages which will help aspirants to write a ‘good essay’.

Today, we will focus on Step 3. 

About our Expert:   Ravi Kapoor IRS (R) , has now ditched his coveted rank of deputy commissioner and has offered free quality mentorship to UPSC aspirants, drawing upon his ten years of experience to create customised and productive curriculum. Through a free mentorship programme, he integrates tailored educational materials, psychological principles, visual learning techniques, and a strong emphasis on mental well-being into his teaching skills granting aspirants a chance to learn from his expertise.

How to have a ‘Structure and Flow’ in a good essay?

Everyone knows that an essay should be broken down into an introduction, body and conclusion. But what is written inside these 3 components and HOW it is written makes the difference between an essay fetching average or excellent scores.

Structuring and flow refer to the organisation of the essay and your ideas therein.

A good structure is a way of organising information that fits well with the essay topic and the ideas you wish to present in your arguments such that the reader can make sense of the entire write-up without much effort.

Good flow refers to how your arguments and counterarguments connect from one to another such that the reader finds it logically connected and easy to comprehend.

An essay without these elements will appear to be disorganized, jargoned, hard to comprehend and overall, complicated.

Contrary to popular belief, flow and structure are not subjective writing skills that are inborn in good writers but can be learned and improved upon. What follows is a series of structuring techniques that will help you choose the best one for any essay topic you may encounter.

What are different types of structures? 

1. 2 side face-off:.

This is the oldest trick in the book. While writing the body of the essay, you divide it into arguments and counterarguments. In other words, you compare one side of the debate with the other.

For example:

“Thinking is like a game; it does not begin unless there is an opposite team”

The body of the essay can be divided into 2 parts- one agreeing with the statement and one disagreeing with it as follows:

Thinking is reciprocal as thought builds on other thoughts. The Socratic method, championed by Socrates, is a testament to this idea. Socrates would go around Athens spreading knowledge by asking questions and inciting dialogue which would lead the conversationist to the point of realization about something new and profound.

Similarly, when Einstein said he was standing on the shoulders of giants, he meant that his theory of relativity was built using many ideas developed by mathematicians and physicists who came before him.

The reciprocal nature of thought helps to improve it by allowing dissent and counterarguments much like a game of chess. An example is the Case study pioneered by Harvard Business School wherein one case is debated upon in detail considering various strategies before arriving at the optimal one.

While dissent and opposition can lead to many a good idea, there are more ways for thought to develop into ideas within human consciousness. Human cognition is too complex to be restricted to one mode of thinking. A Case in point is intuitive or creative thinking that can arise spontaneously without the interlocking of two human intelligences.

For instance, creative geniuses often hit upon their best ideas out of the blue in ‘Eureka’ moments that seem to arise from within the subconscious mind without the presence of an opponent.

Another example is ‘thought-experiments’ used by philosophers that are designed to be introspective exercises that one engages with, with oneself. Thought experiments are indispensable tools for philosophers and physicists to offer insight into a profound problem of logic and metaphysics.

2.Dimensional analysis:

It has become fashionable to break the essay topic into various dimensions such as Social, Cultural, Historical, Economic etc. But this is not a one-size-fits-all method and may or may not work with every essay topic.

“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in the school…”

While this topic can be written about based on various dimensions such as economic, historical, social etc, it is not necessarily the best structure for it.

Instead, a better way to present the information in this essay topic would have a mix of chronology and analysis in the following way-

We are blank slates when we are born onto which society and culture leave their imprint. Through childhood and adolescence, the education system seeks to put us through a treadmill of learning, hoping for a fully functional human to emerge at the end. Sadly, the world that awaits a young adult after school is often very different from what the education system has imparted.

Memorization, exams, grades and NCERT books amount to nothing in a world driven by start-ups, ChatGPT and Social Media influencers…. Please note that the dimensions such as social, cultural and historical factors can also be mentioned in the body of the essay as supporting content ideas.

In most essay topics, these dimensions are best used to describe the reasons and impact of an issue or debate instead of as just a structure.

3. Timeline and Chronology

Some essay topics are uniquely suited for a chronological structure wherein you take the reader through a historical journey or evolution such as :

“History is a series of victories won by the scientific man over the romantic man”

This topic is about the ancient debate between rationality and idealism. To write well about it, you would have to trace the through major historical intellectual movements such as the Scientific Revolution, the Dark Ages, the Renaissance, etc. While doing so, you could mention how each stage was relevant for rational thinking versus idealism with relevant examples.

While you do so chronologically, remember to also present a balanced approach in your arguments- On every stage, you can mention how rational thinking and idealism have been in a tight relationship, but both have been an integral part of human consciousness representing creativity and logic. You may also mention how this to and fro has enriched human civilisation and led to the development of science and art.

4. Anecdotes and stories

Many students like to start their essays with an anecdote- a personal story or an imaginary one about characters highlighting the debate presented in the essay topic. While this is not a bad strategy, it requires a fair amount of creative writing ability to pull off properly. It is also important to mention that anecdotes are not the most suitable vehicle to comprehensively deal with the essay topic as not all arguments can easily fit into a personal story.

An example of a good use of anecdotal structure is:

“Not all who wander are lost”

About 2000 years ago, a wandering prince changed the world by questioning the most profound and radical assumptions about human existence. Prince Siddhartha was bathed in luxury and wanted for nothing. But when we saw the naked reality of the world and all its suffering, he could not silence his mind to the questions that we take for granted- why is there suffering and death? If suffering is inevitable then what is the point of life? Is there peace to be found or are we doomed to suffer in this life?

He wandered for years in search of answers, as lost as a soul can be. But in the end, it was his wandering that changed the world forever. When he became the Buddha, he not only found himself but saved millions of others from being lost themselves….

Anecdotes can make for good hooks or introductions to an essay but may not serve well to cover the entire body of the essay.

The Essay Exercise

Important points to note: 

• You can choose which type of structure to use- there is no single best choice.
• You may use more than 1 type of structure.
• You may use structures for introduction, body and conclusion.

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The UPSC articles of  Indian Express  is now on Telegram.  Join our Telegram channel-  Indian Express  UPSC Hub and stay updated with the latest Updates. For your answers, queries and suggestions write at  manas.srivastava@ indianexpress.com .

Manas Srivastava is currently working as Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and majorly writes for UPSC-related projects leading a unique initiative known as UPSC Essentials. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called ‘Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik’ and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called ‘You Ask We Answer’.His talks on ‘How to read a newspaper’ focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also currently working on a monthly magazine for UPSC Aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University’s Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women’s Studies by the Women’s Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on ‘Psychological stress among students’ at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More

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Terrorist Attack at Reasi Sets Alarm Bells Ringing in India’s Security Establishment

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The targeted attack on Hindu pilgrims traveling by bus to a revered temple came weeks ahead of the start of the annual Amarnath Yatra.

Security men inspect a bus that fell into a deep gorge on Sunday after it was fired at by suspected militants in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir, June 10, 2024.

Last week was a bloody one in Jammu and Kashmir. Between June 9 and 12, militants carried out four attacks in the union territory’s Jammu region, three of them in a span of 24 hours.

A fifth attack happened in Bandipora in the Kashmir region on June 17.

The serial bloodletting began in Reasi district on June 9, when terrorists opened fire on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine. The driver lost control of the bus, causing it to veer off the road and plunge into a gorge. Nine people were killed and 33 others injured.

The attack in Reasi happened at around 6:15 p.m., less than an hour before Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third consecutive term in New Delhi.

Three attacks followed in quick succession on June 11-12. One was at a village in Kathua near the International Border between India and Pakistan. Two militants and a Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed in the gunfight that followed. There were two separate attacks on checkpoints at Gandoh and Chattergala in Doda district resulting in injury to seven security personnel.

The attacks in Jammu, especially the one at Reasi, have set off alarm bells in India’s security establishment.

Following the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy in August 2019, the Modi government stepped up its crackdown on militants and the separatist ecosystem in the Kashmir Valley. On the run from the counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir, militants began to shift their operations to the Jammu region. Jammu, which had been relatively militancy-free over the preceding 15 years or so, began to see militant attacks from 2021.

The first signs of the shift to Jammu came in February 2021, when J&K police seized 15 sticky bombs (magnetic IEDs) in Samba district along the International Border.  On June 27 of that year, low-flying drones dropped IEDs on the Jammu Air Force station, the first time that militants had resorted to this tactic in India.

Several attacks followed in the years thereafter. According to official figures, 29 terrorist-related violent incidents have taken place since early 2021 in the Jammu region. And the number of civilian casualties is rising. The number of civilian deaths in all of 2023 was 12, compared to 17 in the first six months of this year.

A June 2023 report in Indian Express pointed out that although Kashmir saw “a significantly higher number” of “terrorist-initiated incidents” and civilian casualties, India’s security establishment noted that attacks in the Jammu region were “high-impact incidents that have ended up inflicting the maximum damage.”

The attacks in Jammu have raised concern as they have the potential to set off communal riots.

Unlike the overwhelmingly Muslim (96.4 percent) Kashmir Valley, Jammu’s population is more mixed. While Hindus comprise 62.5 percent of the region’s population overall, the proportion of Hindus to Muslims varies from district to district. A terror attack targeting civilians could prompt Hindu-Muslim tensions and violence.

Indeed, the aim of militants carrying out attacks in the Jammu region has often been to stir communal tensions.

On August 14, 1993, terrorists targeted a civilian bus at Kishtwar. Hindus among the passengers were identified and 17 of them were shot dead. The first of several massacres of Hindus in Jammu, the Kishtwar attack triggered Hindu-Muslim clashes. So volatile was the situation that authorities had to rush in troops and declare a curfew to calm tensions.

In 1998, 26 Hindus were beheaded in the villages of Prankote and Dakikote in Udhampur district (now in Reasi district)

Terrorists have also targeted Hindu temples in the Jammu region. Suicide bombers struck the Raghunath Temple in Jammu city in February and November 2002, leaving over 26 worshippers dead and scores of others injured. Hindu pilgrims have been targeted as well. In May of 2022, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and over two dozen injured when a bus returning from the Vaishno Devi shrine caught fire near Katra in Reasi district The incident was initially believed to be an accident; investigators subsequently found that militants had attached a sticky bomb to the bus’s fuel tank.

The recent attack on the passenger bus at Reasi is worrying for several reasons. First, it signals the expanding area of operation of terrorists in the Jammu region. Most attacks in the Jammu region post-2021 were in Rajouri and Poonch districts, which lie along the Line of Control. Could the recent attacks in Reasi and Doda signal the spread of the militancy to Jammu’s interior districts again?

More importantly, the targeting of a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims is concerning, given its potential to trigger communal violence. Besides, the attack came just weeks ahead of the Amarnath Yatra. An annual pilgrimage that hundreds of thousands of Hindus undertake to a cave temple high up in the Himalayas, the Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on June 29 and end on August 19.

Logistics and security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra are challenging at the best of times, given the number of people undertaking the arduous trek and the terrain and weather conditions; the task has become all the more difficult in recent decades, with terrorists targeting pilgrims. On July 10, 2017, for instance, terrorists shot dead seven Amarnath pilgrims and injured 30 others. Security officials are apprehensive that terrorists will target the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.

Importantly, Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to vote in assembly elections soon. The election is an important step toward the restoration of normalcy in the strife-torn union territory.

The last assembly election was held in 2014, when Jammu and Kashmir was a state. J&K has not had an elected government since 2018 as New Delhi has been putting off conducting assembly elections there. Last year, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission of India to hold assembly elections in J&K by September 30, 2024 .

Apprehensive of electoral defeat, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party refrained from fielding candidates from the Kashmir Valley in the parliamentary elections in April-May. The candidates believed to be its “ proxies” were routed .

Although the BJP did well in the Jammu region in the general elections, it could face a tough fight here from the INDIA bloc in assembly elections. The BJP and its proxies or allies are likely to be rejected by voters in the Kashmir region again.

More terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir in the coming months could make the conducting of elections difficult. It will be a handy excuse for the Modi government to postpone assembly elections yet again.

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• The exponential growth of solar power will change the world

An energy-rich future is within reach

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I t is 70 years since AT&T ’s Bell Labs unveiled a new technology for turning sunlight into power. The phone company hoped it could replace the batteries that run equipment in out-of-the-way places. It also realised that powering devices with light alone showed how science could make the future seem wonderful; hence a press event at which sunshine kept a toy Ferris wheel spinning round and round.

Today solar power is long past the toy phase. Panels now occupy an area around half that of Wales, and this year they will provide the world with about 6% of its electricity—which is almost three times as much electrical energy as America consumed back in 1954. Yet this historic growth is only the second-most-remarkable thing about the rise of solar power. The most remarkable is that it is nowhere near over.

To call solar power’s rise exponential is not hyperbole, but a statement of fact. Installed solar capacity doubles roughly every three years, and so grows ten-fold each decade. Such sustained growth is seldom seen in anything that matters. That makes it hard for people to get their heads round what is going on. When it was a tenth of its current size ten years ago, solar power was still seen as marginal even by experts who knew how fast it had grown. The next ten-fold increase will be equivalent to multiplying the world’s entire fleet of nuclear reactors by eight in less than the time it typically takes to build just a single one of them.

Solar cells will in all likelihood be the single biggest source of electrical power on the planet by the mid 2030s. By the 2040s they may be the largest source not just of electricity but of all energy. On current trends, the all-in cost of the electricity they produce promises to be less than half as expensive as the cheapest available today. This will not stop climate change, but could slow it a lot faster. Much of the world—including Africa , where 600m people still cannot light their homes—will begin to feel energy-rich. That feeling will be a new and transformational one for humankind.

To grasp that this is not some environmentalist fever dream, consider solar economics. As the cumulative production of a manufactured good increases, costs go down. As costs go down, demand goes up. As demand goes up, production increases—and costs go down further. This cannot go on for ever; production, demand or both always become constrained. In earlier energy transitions—from wood to coal, coal to oil or oil to gas—the efficiency of extraction grew, but it was eventually offset by the cost of finding ever more fuel.

As our essay this week explains, solar power faces no such constraint. The resources needed to produce solar cells and plant them on solar farms are silicon-rich sand, sunny places and human ingenuity, all three of which are abundant. Making cells also takes energy, but solar power is fast making that abundant, too. As for demand, it is both huge and elastic—if you make electricity cheaper, people will find uses for it. The result is that, in contrast to earlier energy sources, solar power has routinely become cheaper and will continue to do so.

Other constraints do exist. Given people’s proclivity for living outside daylight hours, solar power needs to be complemented with storage and supplemented by other technologies. Heavy industry and aviation and freight have been hard to electrify. Fortunately, these problems may be solved as batteries and fuels created by electrolysis gradually become cheaper.

Another worry is that the vast majority of the world’s solar panels, and almost all the purified silicon from which they are made, come from China. Its solar industry is highly competitive, heavily subsidised and is outstripping current demand—quite an achievement given all the solar capacity China is installing within its own borders. This means that Chinese capacity is big enough to keep the expansion going for years to come, even if some of the companies involved go to the wall and some investment dries up.

In the long run, a world in which more energy is generated without the oil and gas that come from unstable or unfriendly parts of the world will be more dependable. Still, although the Chinese Communist Party cannot rig the price of sunlight as OPEC tries to rig that of oil, the fact that a vital industry resides in a single hostile country is worrying.

It is a concern that America feels keenly, which is why it has put tariffs on Chinese solar equipment. However, because almost all the demand for solar panels still lies in the future, the rest of the world will have plenty of scope to get into the market. America’s adoption of solar energy could be frustrated by a pro-fossil-fuel Trump presidency, but only temporarily and painfully. It could equally be enhanced if America released pent up demand, by making it easier to install panels on homes and to join the grid—the country has a terawatt of new solar capacity waiting to be connected. Carbon prices would help, just as they did in the switch from coal to gas in the European Union.

The aim should be for the virtuous circle of solar-power production to turn as fast as possible. That is because it offers the prize of cheaper energy. The benefits start with a boost to productivity. Anything that people use energy for today will cost less—and that includes pretty much everything. Then come the things cheap energy will make possible. People who could never afford to will start lighting their houses or driving a car. Cheap energy can purify water, and even desalinate it. It can drive the hungry machinery of artificial intelligence. It can make billions of homes and offices more bearable in summers that will, for decades to come, be getting hotter.

But it is the things that nobody has yet thought of that will be most consequential. In its radical abundance, cheaper energy will free the imagination, setting tiny Ferris wheels of the mind spinning with excitement and new possibilities.

This week marks the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. The Sun rising to its highest point in the sky will in decades to come shine down on a world where nobody need go without the blessings of electricity and where the access to energy invigorates all those it touches. ■

For subscribers only: to see how we design each week’s cover, sign up to our weekly  Cover Story newsletter .

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The solar age”

Leaders June 22nd 2024

Ai will transform the character of warfare, emmanuel macron’s project of reform is at risk, how to tax billionaires—and how not to, javier milei’s next move could make his presidency—or break it, india should liberate its cities and create more states.

From the June 22nd 2024 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

More from Leaders

Nigel Farage’s claim that NATO provoked Russia is naive and dangerous

It is also a wilful misreading of history

Technology will make war faster and more opaque. It could also prove destabilising

A snap election in France reveals the flimsiness of his legacy

It doesn’t need more government. It needs more governments

Radical experiments with the currency could spell disaster

Closing loopholes would be a better bet than a levy on unrealised capital gains

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Trump’s Allies Say They’ll Enforce the Comstock Act. Believe Them.

By Michelle Goldberg

Opinion Columnist

Until the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, it was hard for feminists to get Americans to take the threat of losing the constitutional right to abortion seriously. Describing Hillary Clinton’s inability, in 2016, to shake pro-choice voters out of their complacency, The New York Times’s Lisa Lerer and Elizabeth Dias wrote , “Internal campaign polling and focus groups showed that the issue did not resonate strongly with key groups of voters, because they did not believe Roe was truly at risk.”

It is similarly difficult to get Americans to appreciate the threat that the 19th-century Comstock Act could be resurrected . Named colloquially for the fanatical postal inspector Anthony Comstock, the 1873 act — which is actually a set of anti-vice laws — bans the mailing of “obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy or vile” material, including devices and substances used “for producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral purpose.” Though never repealed, it was, until recently, considered a dead letter, made moot by Supreme Court decisions on free speech, birth control and abortion.

But with Roe overturned, some in Donald Trump’s orbit see a chance to reanimate Comstock, using it to ban medication abortion — and maybe surgical abortion as well — without passing new federal legislation.

The 920-page blueprint for a second Trump administration created by Project 2025, a coalition of conservative organizations, calls for enforcing Comstock’s criminal prohibitions against using the mail — widely understood to include common carriers like UPS and FedEx — to provide or distribute abortion pills. Some MAGA legal minds believe that Comstock could also be wielded to prevent the mail from transporting tools used in surgical abortions. “We don’t need a federal ban when we have Comstock on the books,” Jonathan F. Mitchell, a crusading anti-abortion lawyer who represented Trump before the Supreme Court this year, told Lerer and Dias in February.

Conservatives know this would be enormously unpopular, which is probably why, when they talk about Comstock at all, they often refer to it by its criminal code numbers rather than its common name. (“I think the pro-life groups should keep their mouths shut as much as possible until the election,” said Mitchell.) Democrats, by contrast, need to be doing everything possible to make “Comstock” a household word. That’s why they should champion a bill introduced by Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota on Thursday to overhaul the Comstock Act. And it’s why President Biden would be wise to act on a petition from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression to posthumously pardon one of Comstock’s high-profile victims.

Many were shocked when the Supreme Court overturned Roe two years ago, but as Smith, the former vice president of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, told me, they shouldn’t have been, because the right made no secret of its objectives. There is something similar going on with Comstock. “Believe them when they tell us what they want to do, because they will do it if they’re given half a chance,” she said.

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