Traditional Dresses of Rajasthan for Men and Women

Rajasthan is a state rich in culture and traditions. It is also a state that is very much known for its colourful displays and dresses. People often remember Rajasthan as a state that is known for its lake, palaces and forts. Along with these remembrances, when you explore the streets of these cities, you will find a lot of colourful displays that are put on  display. Since visiting Rajasthan is always a one time opportunity, you should definitely know about the traditional dresses of Rajasthan. 

Traditional dresses of Rajasthan hold a very special place in knowing the different cultures and traditions of the different cities of Rajasthan. The different cities of Rajasthan like Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, etc have their own unique styles in which they style their traditional dresses. The beauty of the colourful dresses and the golden sand of the Thar Desert make a very beautiful and unique contrast and combination; this makes  it a beautiful picturesque canvas for clicking pictures. 

Rajasthan’s traditional attire has been, is and always will be a significant part of Rajasthan’s culture and tradition. To know more about these traditional dresses of Rajasthan for both men and women, let’s dive into the beautiful traditional dresses for both men and women. Here is the list of traditional rajasthani dresses for men and women:

Traditional Dresses for MEN

The Rajasthani dresses of the men are basically based on reflection of the region’s culture, heritage, climate uncertainty and cultural identity. The men’s clothes are designed in a way which show both culture and elegance and also have different designs depending on the region. Let’s dive into the different types of traditional dresses for Men.

• Angrakha and Bandhgala: This is a traditional dress that is made out of cotton for the hot summer seasons in the state. These Angrakha are worn by the Rajput rajasthani men. This dress style is the luxurious design of the normal cotton kurta worn by the normal common man. When you translate the meaning of the word “Angrakha” it means that this dress type protects the upper body. There are two types of Angrakha that are worn by the men of Rajasthan. 

The first type of Angrakha is the one which is a short mid-thigh length frock like design and the other one is a full straight knee length frock known as Kurtas. These attires are made customisable according to the men who are wearing these Angrakha so that they are breathable and comfortable in the hot summers. 

Angrakhas are made customisable by adding designs on them. The designs that are very famous on these types of clothing are mirror work, geometrical designs which make them designer for the special occasions. Bandhgala is a traditional attire that is very similar to the Blazers which are made out of rich fabric. These Bandhgalas are worn on the Angrakhas for special occasions like weddings or grand ceremonies.

• Dhoti and Pyjamas: Dhoti are the long white cotton material that is tied around the waist. The dhoti is worn from the hip till the ankle and then passed on between the legs, which is then later tugged in a little under the tailbone area. The length of the dhoti is customised according to the personal preferences of the men. The size varies from ankle till the knee.

Pyjamas are the modern day fashion trend that has been trending in men’s apparel. This is also a cotton material pant that is worn from the waist to the ankle. Pyjamas are very comfortable just like regular trousers. To be worn on a daily basis, these pyjamas are made of cotton, however when these pyjamas are to be worn on special occasions like grand celebrations or weddings, then these pyjamas are made out of good quality silk with embroidery and other designs.

The accessories that is worn by men

There are different types of accessories and footwear worn by men over their traditional attires. Each accessory that is worn by the men in Rajasthan have different meanings to the attire. Let’s read below the significance of each of the accessories worn by men of Rajasthan.

• The first accessory that is worn by men in Rajasthan is the headgear.  This traditional headgear of Rajasthan is called “Safa”. This safa is commonly known as Pagri worldwide and has different names country wide. In Rajasthan, Safa is worn differently all over the region. Safa is a symbol for social status and also for knowing from which part of the region of Rajasthan you come from. 

Safa is worn by men to protect their heads from extreme summers and burning hot sun. The old traditional men of Rajasthan wear Safa on a regular basis. It is said and observed that there are different colours of Safa worn on different occasions. 

Like on weddings Saffron colour Safa is worn widely. A Khaki colour Safa is worn during the mourning times in a family, etc. These Safa’s can be customised according to the occasions that have to be attended. For attending a wedding or a grand celebration, then these Safas are made out of silk or other rich material.

• Apart from the Safa, there are different types of Jewelleries that are worn by men of Rajasthan. Some jewellery pieces are worn for showing social status while some are worn for protection from evil sights and also to protect from unknown enemy attacks. There is a series of jewellery that is worn by the men of Rajasthan. They are as follows:

1. Protective Amulets– This is a jewelry or a neck piece that is worn for protection against the evil spirits or evil eyes. They say that these protective amulets ward off evil spirits and eyes and attract good luck. These amulets can be worn as necklaces or bracelets by the wearer. Sometimes these are containers that hold the actual Pratris. Pratis are made out of metal that have inscriptions of deities to protect the wearer from evil spirits and evil eyes.
2. Sher-nakh-Jantr– This is an ornament that is made out of silver and gold. These are made to be worn in the neck as a necklace. This sher-nakh-jantr has the teeth of tigers. This is worn by the men to show power. It is not necessary for the people to wear necklaces made out of tiger tenths or claws. They can be made out of the different animals’ teeth and class which are symbols of Power. Therefore, the men of Rajasthan wear this neck piece made out of tiger teeths and claws.
3. Silver coins as Financial Protection– This is a jewellery that is made out of silver coins by the artisans of India. It is said that an Englishmen named Sir Thomas Wardle had commented on the type of jewelleries that were being made in India around that time/. He said that it is a very creative way to create jewelleries like a brooch or a bangle out of Silver coins showing flow of art as well as they are full of patterns.
4. Turban Ornaments (Sarpech)– Turban Ornaments or commonly known as the sarpech is a combination of the mughal kalgi and Rajputi sarpati. When this whole sarpech is put together, it shows the design of a feather shaped brooch with a band on either side. It is a symbol of royalty or of a royal favour, this jewellery piece is worn by the Prince and his entourage. In today’s fashion trendy world, only the grooms are wearing this piece of jewellery on their turbans.
5. Ear Jewellery– This is still considered as an important piece of Jewellery in Indian culture. They say that when the babies are young and under the age of three, the parents of these babies should get their ears pierced as the earlobes help in activating some major accu-pressure points in the body. Hence, the rajasthani men are pierced in the right ears as it presents their masculinity. There are different types of earrings that are worn by the royals and the common men.
6. Neck Decorations– The men of Rajasthan wear these different types of traditional jewelleries. The largest and most impressive type of necklace is the “Kanthi” which is made out of expensive and valued gems found in the Indian treasurer. These types of necklaces were worn by the rulers of the regions during their darbar assembly. 
7. The ministers of these courts also wear necklaces that have been made by diamonds and impressive gems commonly known as malas. The common people who attend these court gatherings of the royal darbar also wear a necklace that is called Hansli. This is not only worn by the men who attend the royal darbar gatherings but is worn in all the regions of Rajasthan by men.
8. The arm or hand jewellery– The big silver bangle that is commonly seen on men’s hands are called kadas. The royals who wear these kadas are made out of gold or silver which has an inner carving of floral motifs or deities. The royals also wear a bajuband which is made out of Kundan jewellery. The men of Rajasthan and also the royals wear rings that are called Binti. These rings are made in floral shapes with an exclusive gem studded in the middle. The middle gemstone can be placed with the stones that are recommended in the astrological charts of the wearer.
9. Torso Decoration– This is a kamarpatta that is used by the men of Rajasthan. This is worn on the traditional dress of Rajasthan by the men. This kamarpatta is the decorative belt which is used by the men of Rajasthan to hold their daggers (kata) and sword (pata) with a jewelled belt buckle. In accordance with British colonial rule, the kamarpatta is now worn across the chest area as well as the waist. This is worn during special occasions in the family. 
10. Leg Ornaments– Dastband Almas or the anklets that are worn by the Rajasthani men. This is a symbol of honour and an important indicator of the royal status as this is given by the ruler of the state and is worn on the right ankle by the men. It is said that this anklet that is worn by the men comes with special privileges from the royal family.

Traditional Dresses for Women

The traditional dresses for women in Rajasthan come under a variety of the ranges. There is a diverse range of Rajasthani clothing that is worn by the women of Rajasthan. There are different types of wearing according to the regional places in Rajasthan. These traditional dresses still have an importance in the modern fashion trendy world. There are many designers who still incorporate the Rajasthani traditions and culture. To know more about these traditional dresses for women in Rajasthan, let’s dive into the details of the traditional dresses for women.

• Ghagras– This is the traditional dress of Rajasthan for women since the royal times. This is a long length skirt right from the waist to the ankle. This skirt comes in different colours and designs. The skirt is designed in a pleated form and has different geometrical designs on the skirt. 

These skirts have a border of broad Gotta Patti work, mirror work, fabric work and the work of embroidery. The fabrics of the skirt depend on the occasion of the events the women are attending. These skirts come in cotton, georgette, crepe, chiffon and silk. These skirts also come in different patterns and colours. The most popular designs and patterns on the skirts are made tie and dye, bandhej, leheriya, mothra and chunari. These patterns are commonly worn by the ladies of Rajasthan.

The other part of the lehenga is the choli or the blouse in other words. The blouse of the lehenga is also called “Kachli, choli or the kurti.” These blouses are custom made in accordance to the preferences of the ladies. Some of them like to wear it as a blouse, while some of them like to wear it as a long kurti that comes up till their waist. During these trendy fashion eras, the traditional dresses of women are fusioned with the modern day bridal wears.

• Chunari or Odhani– This is a dupatta that is worn by the ladies of Rajasthan over their  Rajasthani traditional dresses. These chunaris are made of light material cloth and are 2 meters long. To make these dupattas more attractive beadwork, coral shells, mirror work or sequence work is done along with different and beautiful embroidery. 

These chunaris are worn from over the shoulders till the waist and covered over the chest area. This 2 meter of cloth is considered as the veil as well as a token of respect for the elders. It is the culture of Rajasthan, where they believe that the ladies of the families are always meant to be inside the kitchen and they should always cover their faces with the dupattas; so that their face is not visible to any other man in the society.

• Rajasthani Rajputi Poshak– This is also a type of Lehenga and Choli with a chunari or odhani. This Poshak is worn by the Rajputi Women of Rajasthan. It is said these types of traditional Rajputi Poshak are considered to be worn by women of high class and by the ones who have good social status. These Poshak consists of three parts of dressing. It consists of a lehenga, a kachli or a blouse and a chunari or an odhni. 

The wearing style of Rajputi poshak for women is very different from the wearing of  a lehenga and choli.  Though the wearing style of the lehenga and the choli or the kachli (long kurti) is same, the way the chunari or odhni is draped is different as compared to the normal draping styles. This odhni is draped from over the shoulder till the other side of the waist. 

This chunari is draped in such a way that it covers the torso area of the ladies and still has enough cloth left for covering the face as a veil. These Rajputi Poshak come in various types of cloth material, colours, designs and different patterns. These patterns include gotta patti work, zari work, embroidery and many other patterns too. 

The work on the Rajputi Poshak depends on the type of occasion the ladies will be attending. The royal family ladies wear Rajputi Poshaks made out of high quality silk and zari works. If you ever get a chance to visit the museums of Udaipur or Jaipur, then you can see the Rajputi Poshaks of the royal ladies that are put on display.  

Accessories worn by the Ladies

There are various jewelleries that are worn by the ladies of Rajasthan. These jewelleries are a common wear for all the ladies whether they belong to the royal family or are from the common family. These jewelleries add to the beauty of the ladies of Rajasthan. Let’s dive through the various forms of Jewelleries worn by the ladies.

• Rakhdi or Borla: This is a head gear that is worn by the ladies. This is also commonly known as maang tikka. These are not flat in shape like the regular maang tikkas. These are round or oval in shape. When these borlas are worn properly with the whole attire, they look really beautiful on the ladies wearing it. To match the recent fashion trends, the brides and their bridesmaids wear seeshpati along with the rakhdi. Rakhdi is the common name of the borla in Rajasthan.
• Kaanbali or Surliya: This piece of Jewellery is worn in the ears. These are the combination of the mughal and rajput jewellery. This adds on to the sheer elegance of the Rajputi Poshak. If you are willing to get a look that gives you a full royal vibe and look, then you should definitely go for the Kaanbali or the Surliya. These pieces of jewelry are made out of gold and silver. They are also made out of kundan jewellery, meenakari work. You can wear these beautiful ear pieces on your Indian attires apart from the traditional Rajputi Poshak.
• Nathani/Nath: This is worn on the nose. The ladies who are married are supposed to be wearing these nath or the nose pins after their weddings. This is considered as the symbol of married womens. These Naths are very commonly seen in the bollywood movies, You can see the Nath that is worn by Deepika Padukone in Padmavati. These are the types of the Naths that are worn by the ladies of Rajasthan. These Naths are even worn by the brides on their left nostrils and are then supported by a beaded chain or a gold chain over the left ear. 
• Bajubandh/ Armlets and Bangles: These are the jewelleries which are worn on the hand by the ladies. Bajuband is worn on the arms. The bajubandh is made out of gold and silver. They have different designs and motifs on the bajubandh. They are then attached to the threads for adjustments so that these bajubandhs are worn by all the married ladies of the family. 

Bangles are worn by every lady whether married or unmarried. But there are some specific types of Bangles that are worn by only the married ladies and brides of Rajasthan. There is a type of Bangle that is called the “Bangadi Bangle”. 

This bangle comes in a set of two and does not have a clasp or a hook as that would give it a look of Kada. These bangles are a circular shape, broad in size bangles that are plated with gold lining and have different designs and motifs engraved on them. These types of Bangadi Bangles are worn by married women only.

• Haath Phool: It is a piece of Jewellery that is worn on the hand with a ring and a bracelet that is attached to each other through a string made of beads or gems that are used to make the whole Haath Phool. These pieces of Jewelleries are made out of jadau, gold, silver, kundan and meenakari work. This jewellery pattern and design just adds on to the beauty of the wearer. This piece of jewellery can be worn by all ladies whether married or unmarried.
• Anklets: No rajasthani traditional dress can be completed without a payal. These anklets are commonly known as “Payal”. This piece of jewellery is worn on the leg. Payals are made of silver or have a gold plated over it. It is considered that the ladies of the family should not wear gold jewelleries on their legs as it is considered as in-auspicious. It is also said that the ladies of Rajasthan wear the heaviest anklets. So they wear these heavy silver anklets that have ghungroos and a lot of other designs made over it.
• Toe rings/ Bichau: This is a jewellery that is worn on the toe fingers of both the legs. This is a sign of the married ladies and cannot be worn by the single ladies. These toe rings are made out of silver and have different designs made on them.

Traditional Footwear of Rajasthan

The traditional footwear that is worn by the people of Rajasthan is the mojari or commonly called the Jootis. These jootis are made out of camel, sheep and goat leather. These Jootis were actually available only in brown or black colour. However, due to the introduction of contemporary fashion, these jootis are now available in different colours. These jootis can be worn at any occasion and under many Indian outfits.

Traditional Dresses and Jewelleries of Rajasthan vary all over the region. Rajasthan itself is divided into four regions. These four regions have their own artwork and their own way of wearing these dresses. Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur and etc. have their own ways of draping their dupattas and their jewelleries too differ from each other. Udaipur is a city that is rich in different types of clothing and their materials. The jewellery that is also available here is different from that of the other regions in Rajasthan. To explore more of the dress material in Udaipur, then you should definitely visit Udaipur. When coming to Udaipur, you should definitely book your stay at a private villa. Goya Hills is a private luxury villa in Udaipur that is a 3 BHK villa with a swimming pool and a jacuzzi. There is a chef also available at the villa who can cook any dish that matches your taste palette. So to book your stay at the villa, call us on + 91 9024082177.