By Hemant SharmaWhen you search for what Madhya Pradesh is really famous for, you’ll get all the reasons like history, wildlife, landscape and all that. But the culture part? Oh, that’s what intrigues a lot of people, especially when they see those traditional dresses that most people wear in this state. And today, we’re here to talk about just that, so let’s get to what is the Traditional Dress of Madhya Pradesh (for both male and female), shall we?
Traditional Dress of Madhya Pradesh for Men
The Main Traditional Dress
So yes, the men in Madhya Pradesh largely wear Dhoti, just a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs. You know, like, it is very light, made of cotton, and suitable for the hot weather there. Above that, they usually wear Saluka; it has very short sleeves, comes down to the waist, and has no collar at all. And the fabric? Oh, most of the time, it is soft and quite comfortable.
Regional jackets
Amiably, jackets are worn by men when the weather turns chilly. Now, one could talk about Bandi, the stopping-short jacket ending at the waist. Mirzai, on the other hand, is more of an extra-length robe with long sleeves and open cuffs, seen mostly in the Bundelkhand and Malwa areas of the state. Most of the colors are white or black, or thereabouts.
Headgear
With their turban, which is either a Safa or a Chanderi Pagdi, men complete their look. And to be honest, this just looks good, too. Brightly colored pieces of cloth pinned to the head, these turbans are symbolic of pride and honor. And of course, each area has its unique style of tying it. Well, that’s pretty much how you can also identify like in which part of the state you really are.
What About Tribal Variation?
So the tribal men wear this super-short dhoti version called Langot liquorish. Worn with no shirts or jackets or anything, mostly in red, it is super simple and almost exclusively tribal.
Traditional Dress of Madhya Pradesh for Women
The Main Traditional Dress
Well, that sure enough would be the Lehenga-Choli, which is like the main and go-to dress option for women in Madhya Pradesh, and it is not just for the special occasions, nah, instead they like to wear on a day to day basis as well. For those who have no idea of this dress yet, well, Lehenga is a long skirt while choli is a tight blouse. Women usually throw a scarf like odhni or Lugda over their heads and shoulders. It is mostly red or black or something like that.
Signature Sarees
You know Madhya Pradesh is very much known for its sarees, right? Well, there are few top picks from this state that so many other state women also like. Here:
- Chanderi Saree is made up of silk or cotton, very soft, glittering, and contains beautiful designs such as flowers or peacocks.
- The Maheshwari Saree is the same, silk or cotton. They have these beautiful golden edges, called Zari, and sometimes they are reversible.
- A Bandhani Saree is made using this tie-dye technique. So they tie small bunches of the fabric and dye, producing very beautiful patterns. Most of the time, though, they are very colorful and bright.
What About Modern-Day Trends?
Today, Bandhani salwar-kameez has been adapted by a whole lot of women into modernity. Western clothes are already popularized among cities, but sarees and lehengas seem to be shining through festivals and other big days.
Jewelry & Ornaments
You know, Madhya Pradesh women love adorning themselves, just like any other part of the country, right? Well, let’s talk about the way they do it here. So:
- Kathir jewelry is this super traditional tribal stuff made of silver.
- Bangles are usually made of this resin stuff called lac.
- Necklaces and bracelets? Rocked every day and for festivals and stuff.
- Pajeb’s this cool anklet that makes a nice jingle when women walk.
Jewelry adorns and beautifies them, giving due respect. It just completes the traditional look and to be honest, it just looks stunning.
Tattoos in Tribal Culture
Whenever you read about tattoos from a tribal POV, you’ll see that people of these tribes tattoo their hands, arms, or even foreheads. Why? Well, the tattoo usually represents something, you know like a flower, animal, a deity, or even the name of a loved one. Tribes such as Bhil, Bhilala, Banjara, Kumhar, and Kahar are known for this tradition. Tattoos are more than just adornments or just for style; they proclaim their ideologies and value systems by doing so.