By Editor India’s beauty is that no matter which part you look in, you’ll find ancient history there, and sure enough, the Eastern state of the country, Odisha, is known for just that alone, with its spirituality as well as its culture. And once you’re in Odisha, it’ll be pretty clear to you that you’re visiting this state because the traditional dresses of everybody give off that amazing vibe. But, up until this point, if you didn’t know anything about the traditional dress of Odisha, then just keep on reading because we’ll talk about how men and women traditionally dress up in this state.
Traditional Dress for Women in Odisha
![Traditional Dress of Odisha [For Men & Women]](https://www.statesinsights.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Traditional-Dress-of-Odisha-For-Men-Women.webp)
Sambalpuri Saree
When a person refers to “Odisha saree,” it is the Sambalpuri that is most often associated with the term or their culture. Like, one of its most distinguished features is the unique Ikat or Bandha technique with which the cloth is made. In this technique, the threads are tie-dyed even before they are woven. This ensures that the motifs are an integral part of the fabric, there are no additional prints, and no surface work is done. Most of the time, people come across chakra, shankha, flowers, and peacocks, which are the ornaments derived from Lord Jagannath.
There are cotton Sambalpuris available, which are perfect for daily wear, and silk ones, which are considered special occasion wear.
Khandua Saree
And then, well, Khandua is the one that is very close to Lord Jagannath’s heart, as this saree is normally presented to him. No doubt, it is made in Nuapatna and Maniabandha, generally, in pure silk with vibrant colors like red or yellow. Just so you know, though, the edges are most of the time black, and numerous fabrics have the musical verses of Gita Govinda intricately woven in them.
Pasapalli Saree (Saktapar)
Alright, so next, the Bargarh-Sonepur district is the home of this double Ikat saree, which is generally found in black-white or red-black checks. It symbolizes equilibrium, and people use it mostly at their wedding or a family function.
Bomkai Saree (Sonepuri Saree)
First of all, see, Bomkai is the product of the district of Ganjam. The cotton ones are nice for daily use, and the silk ones are saved for festivals and special occasions. The body of the saree is kept simple, but the border and pallu are covered with intricately detailed motifs, birds, fish, tribal patterns, and fine thread work. It is all just woven, though, nothing embroidered.
Berhampuri Saree (Berhampur Patta)
These sarees are the product of Berhampur, which is frequently referred to as the silk city down there in Odisha. Generally, they are sold as two pieces, a saree for the bride and one for the groom. What stands out is the Phoda Kumbha temple-style border. Usually, it is the preferred option for a bridal look.
Pattachitra Saree
Pattachitra sarees are essentially art pieces that you can wear. The artists directly embellish the material with the stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, or Jagannath culture.
Traditional Dress for Men in Odisha
Dhoti
Generally, a simple white dhoti with a maroon or brick-red border is the traditional clothing of men in Odisha. See, a cotton one is good for regular days, but for celebrations, weddings, or Rath Yatra, silk is preferred.
Kurta-Pyjama
Not a single doubt, almost any traditional ceremony can be attended with a minimum of effort by wearing a cotton kurta matched with a pyjama or dhoti. The majority of men opt for white or cream; however, the lighter colors, such as blue or peach, are getting more and more popular day by day.
Sherwani
Just like the rest of the country, on the occasion of their weddings, and likewise for big ceremonies, men would choose to wear a sherwani fabricated from silk or brocade and decorated with very little golden work.
Gamucha
The red-white check cotton towel that is almost always found with every Odia man is called the gamucha. It doesn’t really have a specific use; it can be used for wiping sweat, covering the head, tying around the waist, or even showing respect at temples.
Khandua Pata Silk Dhoti
And then, well, the priests of Puri commonly use colorful red or orange silk dhotis while performing their temple rituals, which are made from Khandua fabric. It is usually woven with patterns.
Sambalpuri Lungi
And at last, well, men in Western Odisha usually pair their Sambalpuri lungis with Western Odisha men generally accessorize their Sambalpuri lungis with Ikat motifs. They’re airy, comfortable, and are the ideal clothing for doing daily chores, resting at home, or agricultural activities or anything like that.