By Editor Religiously speaking, Uttarakhand is pretty much one of the most connected states in the country, with things like deep spiritual roots, tribal traditions, that hilly environment, and whatnot. The culture in this state is something we recommend everyone experience at least once in their lifetime. But before you delve into the rich culture of Uttarakhand, you’ll get a hint of it or get intrigued by the way people dress in this state. If that’s something you found interesting lately, you’ll love this post because we’re here to talk about the traditional dress of Uttarakhand, both for men and women.
Traditional Dress For Women In Uttarakhand
1. Garhwali Women’s Attire
Alright, so first of all, the women of Garhwal generally wear sarees, but they have their own unique style of draping. You know like rather than wrapping the pallu around the back, they bring it to the front and tie it by making a knot on the shoulder. This not only helps in keeping the saree stable while working in the fields but also when carrying heavy loads.
Some time back, women used to wear a full-sleeved blouse known as Angra that had silver buttons and was used for warmth. And then, the Dhantu, a headscarf, was a cover for the head as well as a means for tying the load while walking.
Other than that, jewellery represents a significant part of the Garhwali culture. As a rule, married females are seen wearing the silver Hansuli, gold and fabric combination Guloband, black-beaded Chareu, silver anklets, toe rings called Bichuye, and big earrings.
2. Kumaoni Women’s Attire
See, the daily outfit in Kumaon is a long ghagra along with a kameez or blouse. This very dress consists of several folds and layers, somewhat similar to the style of certain areas of Rajasthan.
Other than that, the main attraction for the events is the Pichora or Rangwali. It is a yellow fabric embroidered with either gold or silver motifs, and thus, a Kumaoni bride can be seen draping it over her head at the time of the wedding only. The item is essentially a married sign in the locality.
The jewellery contains the large Nath(hansuli), chareu, bichuye, and sindoor. Plain and simple! Other, urban ladies can wear contemporary clothes every day if they like, but at weddings and religious ceremonies, the Pichora is always revived.
3. Tribal Women’s Dress
The tribal communities have kept their own distinct fashion, no doubt. For example:
Jaunsari women are seen in bright ghagras, woollen coats, and vibrant scarves. During festivities, they adorn themselves with a long coat referred to as Lohiya or Thalka and also wear an ornate, heavy silver jewellery.
On the other hand, Bhotia women of the upper Himalayan areas are seen wearing woollen skirts, long shirts, and waistcoats, all of which are made from the local wool that has been woven in their area. Their adornments include huge beads and big nose rings, usually.
Traditional Dress For Men In Uttarakhand
1. Garhwali Men’s Attire
Generally, the Garhwali male population dresses in a kurta along with pyjama or churidar. Plain and simple! Just to top it all off in the winter season, they put on woollen jackets or sweaters.
Just like many other states in India, sure enough, a headgear is very significant here. Boys and young men put on a small topi, whereas old men wrap a pagdi or turban around their heads. The bridegroom most often dresses in a yellow kurta and dhoti with a shoulder scarf at the marriage ceremony.
And it happens that some elderly men wear a kurta with a blazer, which is the fashion that was left behind from the British era.
2. Kumaoni Men’s Attire
Kumaoni male mostly wears a similar kurta-pyjama or dhoti style. Tops and turbans are also quite fancy. Bear in mind, though, a quite different thing to know about Kumaoni men is that they are fascinated by jewellery, necklaces, and bracelets are even worn on normal days.
On festival occasions, they put on a little more attractive outfit but make sure that it is still comfortable considering the weather.
3. Tribal Men’s Dress
Jaunsari men also wear the typical woollen Digwa cap, wear necklaces and kadas. They put on the long Lohiya coat, the same as the women, just on the important days, though.
And then, Bhotia men are dressed in loose woollen gowns over trousers, which are tied with a woollen belt called Patta; they also wear a warm woollen cap. All these are handmade and very suitable for severe cold in higher regions.