India is famous worldwide for its diversity, which encompasses every aspect of Indian life. Across the 28 states and 8 union territories, we see a wide range of differences in culture, food, festivals, and even daily life. But this heterogeneity only serves to bring Indians closer and to unite them in their colourful differences. One such important cultural difference between the states is in the traditional attires of each state. Every attire tells a unique story of the people, which reflects their history and their ethnic heritage. Let us see 7 such beautiful attires from the different states in India.
1. Mundum Neriyathum - Kerala
Mundum Neriyathum or Mundu-set is the cultural symbol of the Malayalis. It is traditionally white or creamish in colour and has a golden border, which imparts a very classy and elegant look. It consists of two pieces of cloth, and the lower garment is called the mundu, which is worn below the navel. The upper garment is called the neriyathu, which is worn over a blouse. This resembles the ancient saree worn by the ancestors which only covered the lower part of the body. To this day, Mundum Neriyathum is worn by some as their everyday costume, though for big festivals like Onam, it is worn by almost everyone. In many traditional restaurants and hotels in Kochi you can see Mundum Neriyathum being worn.
2. Mekhela-Sador - Assam
Mekhela-Sador is the traditional Assamese dress worn by women. It consists of two pieces of cloth covering the body, worn over a blouse. The bottom portion which is draped from around the waist is called the Mekhela, and the top portion is the Chador which is worn over the blouse and is tucked into the Mekhela. Traditionally, a Riha is used in place of a blouse. This costume dates as far back as the 13th century, and is still popular today, worn extensively not only in festivals but also as a daily attire in Assam.
3. Salwar kameez - UP
The traditional attire of Uttar Pradesh comes in three parts. The salwar is a loose pant, the kameez is the long loose straight cut top with side seams left open below the waist, and the dupatta is a long piece of cloth draped loosely on the upper part of the body. The Salwar Kammez has aged well with time, and still is very commonly worn by women. Let it be doing on a date to nearby hotels or restaurant, or going on a cultural festival, Salwar Kameez is the go to choice for women, and a common attire to see in public places, restaurants and hotels in Delhi.
4. Sambalpuri saree - Odisha
This handwoven saree traditionally produced in five districts of Odisha, the Sambalpuri saree is known for its unique draping style and its incorporation of different religious and cultural motifs. In a long process, the threads of the saree are first tie-dyed and then woven into a fabric, this type of craftsmanship being called the Bandhakala. These sarees are thought to have been made in Odisha as far back as the 12th century, and they continue to be popular even today. They are prominently worn during religious festivals, in which case the sarees are often adorned with designs featuring the face or symbols of Lord Jagannath.
5. Puan - Mizoram
The traditional Mizo dress, more than 30 varieties of Puan exist today, with different tribes having their versions according to their subculture. Puan was traditionally a 2 piece dress stitched together, but modern variants are woven as a single piece of cloth, which resembles a kind of a skirt draped around the body. Plans are well known for their intricate designs and motifs and are worn by most Mizo women on festival days.
6. Risa, Rikutu and Rigwnai - Tripura
The traditional dress of Tripura comes in three parts, the Rigwnai for the lower half, and the Risa and Rikutu for the upper half. Risa is similar to a blouse covering the chest, while Rikutu is draped around the entire upper body. Different Tripuri clans have their distinguishing patterns of Rigwnai, though nowadays there is quite a bit of intermingling among the variations. This costume said to be dating back to over 4000 years ago, is supposedly the precursor to the modern Indian saree, and is still worn today in Tripura, especially during traditional festivals.
7. Bengal- Saree
One of the most iconic traditional dresses, the Bengali Saree is ubiquitous in every aspect of the Bengali life. Sarees in Bengal usually come in cotton or silk and are of around 30 different types. They consist of a long piece of cloth draped around the lower half of the body and then raised to cover the upper half over a blouse with the end hanging over the shoulder. Different types of sarees are associated with different parts of life, with some being worn daily by the womenfolk, and some others being reserved for special occasions, like the Benarasi saree for marriage. It's also a common practice for women to wear in hospitality industry, and the same can be seen in many premier hotels in Kolkata, like Hotel Aura- Kolkata, ITC Taj Bengal- Kolkata, The park - Kolkata and many more. the The most well-known look, however, is perhaps of the white saree with a red drape which is associated with pujas all over Bengal.
Each of the attires mentioned above reflects the rich history and tradition of the state. So, wearing traditional attire is carrying with oneself the emotions and the feeling of belonging attached to their heritage. Often these costumes date back to hundreds of years, if not thousands, and hence they reflect the evolution of the culture through history. We can learn a lot about a state from its traditional attire, and each of them tells a different story about its people, as you can see from the list.