Known as the DEV Bhoomi (Land of Gods), Uttarakhand is the most vibrant state in India. It represents a rich culture, yummiest cuisines, colorful attires and the most flattering styles of jewellery.
We’re personally in love with its traditional dresses that are unique to the state and represent different communities that reside in Uttarakhand.
So, here’s everything you need to know about the traditional dress of Uttarakhand.
PS: We’ve divided this blog into different categories. All these categories talk about the most famous dresses of different communities residing in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Traditional Dress For Garhwali Community:
Garhwali community is an Indian ethno-linguistic group native to Uttarakhand. The people belonging to the Garhwali community wear beautiful colorful traditional dresses and jewellery styles.
Read everything about the Uttarakhand culture dress of this community below!
Garhwali Traditional Dress Of Uttarakhand
Men Gharwali Dress:
Garhwali men usually wear kurta and pajama or kurta and churidar. This is the most common attire for men in the Garhwali community.
Kurta is a long shirt up to knees, that is usually adorned with traditional work done by the artisans in Uttarakhand.
Kurta is paired with pajama (loose pants) and a topi or a pagadi.
While topi is worn by the boys or middle-aged men, pagadi is usually worn by the older men. Both of these accessories help them to protect themselves from the cold.
Bridegroom Dress:
Garhwali men wear a yellow-colored kurta along with a dhoti as their wedding attire.
Women Gharwali Dress :
Garhwali women in Uttarakhand wear sarees that are tied in a very different yet flattering way.
How is it tied and its benefits!
The saree is worn on the front-side. The pallu (the most important part of a saree) is worn on the front and knotted on the shoulder.
This traditional look is pulled together with a waistband, made of cloth.
The saree is worn with a full-sleeved blouse, also known as Angra. The fabric used for Angra and saree differs according to the region’s weather conditions, that is, woolen in colder regions and cotton in warmer regions of the state.
This traditional dress of Uttarakhand for Garhwali women makes it easier for them to work in the fields and carry the harvest.
The saree is adorned with “Hansuli”- a type of silver or gold necklace worn by married women.
Uttarakhand Traditional Dress For Kumaoni Community:
Men Kumaoni Dress :
Just like Garhwali men, men of Kamaoni community also wear kurta and pajama along with a turban or topi.
To make their look different, they wear a special type of neck jewellery, specific to the Kumaon region.
Women Kumaoni Dress :
The women in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand wear ghagra-kameez.
Ghagra is a skirt made of colorful fabrics and interesting patterns. It is paired with a kameez, also known as a shirt or blouse.
The overall look of a Kamaoni woman resembles the look of a Rajasthani woman but the differentiating factor remains the pichoras.
Pichoras is a type of garment that is worn by the Kumaoni women, usually on festive occasions and weddings.
The traditional Pichora is handmade by the artisans in a combination of red and yellow color, however, as the machine work is replacing the handwork in the modern world, pichoras are now being made by the machines instead of hands.
Uttarakhand Traditional Dress For Tribal Community:
Uttarakhand is home to mainly five tribes: Tharu, Jannsari, Buksa, Bhotia, and Raji.
Majority of the tribal population of Uttarakhand resides in the Pithoragarh district and Udham Singh Nagar in Kumaon division and Dehradun and Chamoli district of Garhwal division.
We’ve talked about the traditional dresses of 2 main tribes of Uttarakhand.
Check it out!
Traditional Dress of Bhotia Tribe For Men:
1. Bakhu:
Men of Bhotia tribe wear a traditional costume known as Bakhu. It is a loose garment that is knotted around the neck from one side and tied at the waist with a silk or cotton belt.
Bhaku is paired with loose trousers to give it a complete look.
2. Chhuba:
Bhoti tribe’s men also wear a robe with wide and elongated sleeves that go up to the ground. This robe is tied around the waist with a woolen girdle so that it doesn’t touch the ground. The upper folds of chhuba form a giant pocket around the wearer’s chest. These pockets are known as “Ampa”.
Traditional Dress of Bhotia Tribe For Women :
1. Honju:
Honju is a type of choli or blouse made in waist-length. A traditional honju consists of a front-end opening with small-sized buttons. This design makes it really easy for women to wear it for a longer period of time.
2. Chhua:
Chhua is a gown-like garment worn by women of the Bhotia tribe. Made in dark colors, it is usually wrapped around the waist and tightened with a belt.
Jaunsari Tribe Traditional Dress:
Uttarakhand Traditional Dress For Men:
Jaunsaris have a distinct and colorful style of clothing. The men wear traditional colorful attires adorned with jewellery like earrings, kadas and necklaces.
Uttarakhand Traditional Dress For Women:
The women of Jaunsaris tribe wear a ghagra, a woolen coat, and dhantu which is a type of scarf. For festive occasions and wedding ceremonies, they also wear Thalka or Lohiya, which is a long coat.
So, these were the different types of dresses worn by different communities in Uttarakhand. Which of these dresses did you like the most? Also, which community’s dressing style is your favorite?
Tell us in the comments below!
Read more about the traditional dress of Karnataka here.
