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Sari
A sari / saree is the traditional female garment in
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. A sari
is a very long strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from
four to nine metres in length, which can be draped in
various styles. The most common style is for the sari to
be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped
over the shoulder baring the midriff. The sari is
usually worn over a petticoat (pavada/pavadai in the
south, and shaya in eastern India), with a blouse known
as a choli or ravika forming the upper garment. The
choli has short sleeves and a low neck and is usually
cropped, and as such is particularly well-suited for
wear in the sultry South Asian summers. Cholis may be
"backless" or of a halter neck style. These are usually
more dressy with a lot of embellishments such as mirrors
or embroidery and may be worn on special occasions. Women
in the armed forces, when wearing a sari uniform, don a
half-sleeve shirt tucked in at the waist.
Salwar kameez and dupatta
The salwar kameez is another form of popular dress for
females. It consists of loose trousers (the salwar)
topped by a long loose shirt (the kameez). It originates
from the state of Punjab in India, but now has become
popular all across India, and other South Asian
countries. It is commonly worn with a narrow scarf
called a dupatta, which can be used to cover the head,
or just draped over the shoulders. The salwar kameez is
most common in the northwestern part of India.
Lehenga, choli, and odhani
The women of Rajasthan and Gujarat often wear colorful
swirling skirts called lehenga, paired with a short
bodice called a choli. If they must cover their heads,
they do so with bright veils called odhani.
Tribal styles
Tribal styles vary greatly, but usually correspond with
the same styles as salwaar kameez, choli, and other
Indian dress.
Men's clothing
The most common male attire consists of the dhoti and
kurta, worn in most of the western and central regions.
A sherwani is typically worn for special occasions. Men
of northern India and the Punjab may also wear salwar
kameez, often in plain white cotton, and top the kameez
with a dark waistcoat. The lungi (a type of wrap-around)
is worn in many parts of India, but depending on the
social practices of the region it may be restricted to
indoor-wear.
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