FASHION The East Indians introduced new fashions and clothing such as the sari, choli, kurtah, orhni, salwar kameez, garara, dupatta, gangri, pagri, and dhoti. Jewellery included the nakphul, bera, churia, and baju band, to name a few.
The Sari is an unstitched length of fabric up to 9 yds in length and 18 to 60 in width with a decorated end panel draped in a wide variety of styles. It is perhaps the item of clothing most familiar to westerners, and is part of ancient tradition culture. According to legend, when the beautiful Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, was lost to the enemy clan in a gambling duel, the Lord Krishna promised to protect her virtue. The evil victors, intent on claiming their prize, caught one end of the sheer material that covered her so demurely yet seductively. They continued to pull and unravel, but they could not reach the end. In this ancient epic virtue triumphed once more.
The Shalwar/Kameez (Salwar Kameez) is a knee-length dress worn over tight fitting trousers and dupatta. This is the second most popular dress in most parts of India and was brought to the West Indies by the Indian immigrants. The dupatta is a long veil.
The Gangri is a long, full skirt reaching down to the ankles. The Choli is a short blouse worn with the sari, and the orhni is a veil which covers the upper part of the body. The kurtah is a long loose shirt, and the dhoti is a cotton loin cloth. Both garments are worn by men. The Kurtah is also worn by women in combination with the garara.
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