The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known for its association with nature as well as for following centuries old traditions. Even in the 21st century, a beautiful blend of principles and traditions can be seen in their lifestyle. The same can be said about their attire, which includes everything from dupatta to turban.
Bishnoi is in the news these days for some other reason. We probably don't even need to tell you what the whole matter is. But we are not going to talk about any controversy or headline of theirs here. Rather, we are going to talk about the attire that shows the rich culture of Bishnoi society.
The people of this community coming from Rajasthan are very close to nature. On one hand, their way of living is simple, on the other hand, a beautiful mixture of color and embroidery is seen in their attire. There are different clothes for unmarried to married women and men, in which changes are also seen according to the occasion. All these clothes are an important part of the identity of their society.
What do Bishnoi women wear
The attire of Bishnoi women includes the same things that are usually seen in the attire of other Rajasthani women. The upper garment consists of a kurti, which is also called puthiya or kanchli. It usually has a small or deep neckline, which is U-shaped. Their sleeves are kept half or three-fourth length.
This is how kurtis are decorated
To make women's kurtis beautiful, they are decorated with coloured stones and star work. Along with this, work of gota and silk threads is also seen. Flowers or traditional patterns can be seen on the kurti made from threads, which give it a rich look.
skirt and color
The kurti is worn with a flared Ghaghra below, which is pleated. These can have more or less pleats. Their length can be till the ankle or below it. The work done on the Ghaghra is of different types. Some have overall prints, while some have heavy or gota border with light embroidery.
Talking about the color of the clothes, women of Bishnoi society are seen in dark or bright colored Ghaghra and Kurta, which mainly include colors like orange to pink, red and yellow.
The veil is a part of the attire
Along with long choli and ghagra, women wear a scarf on their head, which is called odhani. Unmarried girls of the community wear pothri/para, odhna and puthiya. Married women wear ghagra, kanchli, kurti and odhani.
The prints and work of odhani made from light fabrics ranging from cotton to georgette can be different. Some people get gota work done on its border, while others keep it plain.
Bishnoi men's dress
The dress of men of Bishnoi society includes a kurta or chola and a dhoti. This kurta is up to the thigh or knee and has full sleeves. An angarkha or bandi is added on top, which is usually flared. However, men are usually seen in kurta without it.
The dhoti is worn from around the feet to the middle of the thighs and tucked at the back. Its length is up to the ankle. These clothes are usually made of cotton and their color is white.
Turban is also an integral part of men's attire
Men of the Bishnoi community have a tradition of wearing a turban, also known as Potiya. Like other clothes, it is usually white in colour and made of cotton. However, on special occasions, men are also seen wearing turbans made of georgette or chiffon, which are decorated with zari or other traditional embroidery. The Potiya they wear is 8 inches wide and 80 feet long.