Traditional Costumes-3

The following are the traditional costumes of West India.

Gujarat:

Male-Chorno & Kediyu.

Female-Chaniyo & Choli.

The dresses worn by males in rural areas consists of cotton drawers called "Chorno" & a short "Kediyu" or "Angarakhu" covering the upper part of the body.

Women put on "Chaniyo" the coloured petticoat often embroidered with "abhala" or glass pieces, a similarly embroidered blouse or bodice called "Choli" or "Polku" along with "Odhani", a coloured piece of coarse cloth covering the body and the head.

Ras and Garba Costumes

The Ras dance is considered to be the form of Ras Leela, which Krishna used to perform when he was leading the life of a cowherd boy at Gokul and Vrindavan. The Ras is by itself very simple and is generally performed by a group of youthful people who move in a circle to measured steps, marking time by sticks called dhandias keeping in their hands & singing in chorus accompanied by dhol, cymbals, flute or shehnai.

The costumes for this dance is a small coat called keviya with tight sleeves and pleated frills at the waist with embroidered borders & sholders, tight trousers like chudidars & colourfully embroidered cap or coloured turban & coloured kamarbandha i.e. waistband.

The traditional dress for Gujarati women is the lehenga choli or ghagra choli.

Abhas-Traditional costume of Kutch region

The women looked beautiful in their fabulous Abhas as they swayed to the music. The twinkling lights played over the gold & thread emboridery while the sequins & badla work sparkled continuously.

Goa:

Cotton clothes are the best option during the warm and sunny days. Woolen clothes are rarely needed. If you feel cold all you need is a light wool jacket or sweater.

Maharashtra:

Men wear dhoti and shirt with a headress known as the "Pheta", & women wear sari with a short-sleeved "Choli" (blouse). The sari is 9m long and is worn tucked between the legs. Sari in Marathi is known as "Lugade" or "Sadi".