» Costumes of North India

Each state has its own regional attire that distinguishes it from others. The main costume for the women is the unstitched length of cloth, the evergreen and graceful ‘saree’, though the style of draping, and the length of the cloth varies from region to region.It is surprising, that Indian men usually wear western dresses for all practical purposes, though kurta worn over payjamas, or ‘dhotis’ and ‘lungis’ is also popular in many parts of the country.There is a variety of headgear worn to match the occasion.

Costumes of Rajasthan
Both males and females dress in the customary dresses fully influenced by climate, economy, status and the profession. The traditional dresses being ‘potia’, ‘dhoti’, ‘banda’, ‘angrakha’, ‘bugatari’, ‘pachewara’, ‘khol’, ‘dhabla’, amongst Hindus; and ‘tilak’, ‘burga’, ‘achkan’ amongst Muslims, which are fast changing now with ‘bushirt’, ‘salwar’ and ‘skirts’, saris and pants accordingly.

Turban, the head dress of Rajasthani men, is a differential pattern, of each geographical region designed to suit terrain and climatic influence. All over Rajasthan, the ‘bandhni’, the tie-and-dye sari and turban reign supreme.

Costumes of Jammu & Kashmir
What makes Jammu and Kashmir's costumes and attires different from the rest of India is because of the blend of three distinct cultural backgrounds. Filled with greener pastures the dressing in the region of Kashmir becomes more colourful with exquisite embroidered work that accompanies their clothes, especially the shawls and Pherans, which are embroidered with intricate patterns of multihued threadwork. Up above in Ladakh , the dressing sense is having a trans-Himalayan influence in it. One can check the true colours of this barren cold desert in the festive seasons when the ceremonial attires just astound the spectators.

Costumes of Uttar Pradesh
The costumes worn by the people are basically guided by geographical considerations. For the women, sari is the basic and the most graceful form of dress.

The saree is draped in different styles in the cities and in the villages of the hills. Salwar suit, lehangas, shararas, and gararas, the flairy parallel trouser-like dress, worn over long kurtas are also popular in the state, especially among the Muslim women.

Costumes of Haryana
The women of the region have a special attraction towards colours. Women love to wear colourful dresses. Their basic trousseau includes 'Damaan', 'Kurti' & 'Chunder'. 'Chunder' is the long, coloured 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 blouse, usually white in colour. The 'Daaman' is the flairy ankle-long skirt, in striking colours.

The men generally wear 'Dhoti', the wrap around cloth, tucked in between the legs with a white-coloured 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.