Ans: Yes, in many tourist places you can rent pheran and kasaba along with jewelry for photoshoots. Some major spots are Dal Lake, Sonmarg, and Betaab Valley.
Traditional Dress of Jammu & Kashmir: Explore The Charm of Kashmiri Costume
Table of Contents:
- The Culture Of Inspiring Kashmiri Costumes
- Typical Jammu & Kashmir Dresses During Summers
- Typical Jammu & Kashmir Dresses During Winters
- Kashmiri Traditional Dress for Men
- Traditional Attire for Women in Kashmir
- Traditional Dress of Dogras (Jammu Region)
- Ladakhi Traditional Costumes
- Why the Traditional Dress of Kashmir Still Matters Today
- Pros and Cons of Wearing Traditional Kashmiri Costumes
- Expert Tip
- Final Words
- FAQs
The traditional dress of Jammu and Kashmir shows the area’s culture and skills. It reflects their community values built over many years. Kashmiri traditional dress is a special part of the culture for the people living in this northern paradise. It blends style and usefulness.
Jammu & Kashmir is one of those states that has been deeply influenced by the vibrant culture of Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Even after decades of a shift in influence, the locals have preserved their roots and culture.
Whether it’s about the traditional dresses of Jammu & Kashmir or lip-smacking cuisines, the city is widely regarded as a treasure house of tradition. While Kashmir boasts its ethnicity and scenic beauty, let’s get familiarized with the local dresses.
The Culture Of Inspiring Kashmiri Costumes
The costumes of Jammu & Kashmir are crafted by the area’s environment, weather and religion. In Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, locals have their own trademark types of clothing. These traditional outfits are not only beautiful but also help keep the wearer warm in the cold weather.
Typical Jammu & Kashmir Dresses During Summers
Summers are quite hot in Jammu, but in Kashmir it’s pleasant; during certain months like June and July, the weather might go up to 27°C. Locals usually wear cotton fabric like salwar kurti or modern t-shirts.
This may also vary depending on the group of people you will encounter there. Being a Muslim-dominant region, most of the locals wear a kurta, a pathani, or a burqa.
For Men
The most common attire among men is a kurta with salwar along with a sadri, which is a pathani coat. Moreover, you will also witness local men wearing long kurtas with trousers or jeans.
In the past decade or so, Kashmiri Pandits used to wear a headgear that is known as a dastar, but that is so uncommon these days. The Sikh population in Kashmir can be seen wearing modern shirts and t-shirts or sometimes long cloaks along with turbans. Muslims wear skullcaps known as taqiyah.
For Women
Clothing for women in Kashmir is quite typical throughout the region and community. Muslim women can be seen wearing a hijab or burqa. While others wear a kurti and salwar accompanied by a headscarf.
Pheran is a common dress among all the locals, whether they’re Hindu or Muslim, male or female. With a slight variation, pheran is a commonly worn traditional dress in Kashmir. Women also layer the pheran with Pashmina shawls with churidar pajamas below.
During the festival or a special occasion, Hindu women can be seen wearing dejhoor (long earrings) and silver anklets.
Typical Jammu & Kashmir Dresses During Winters
Winters in Kashmir are quite chilly and wet around the area. Most commonly, you’ll witness locals wearing waterproof jackets or raincoats as the weather gets unpredictable.
The trekking waterproof boots come out, and the requirements of woolen fabric, along with shawls and kangri, become a necessity. Here is the male attire worn during winter.
For Men
Men usually wear woolen kurtas, thermal inners, and salwar or churidar-style trousers underneath the pheran for insulation. Aside from traditional wear, it’s also common to see men wearing woolen mufflers, caps, and gloves. In urban areas or among the youth, traditional pherans are often styled with modern jackets, hoodies, or waterproof overcoats for practicality.
For Women
The pheran is a commonly worn attire among all the females; the only difference is that it gets thicker and is made out of wool. The clothing gets layered either with a shawl accompanied by a kangri or a puffer jacket during cold waves.
Kashmiri Traditional Dress for Men
1. Pheran – The Iconic Garment
A Pheran is a well-known traditional dress of Kashmir. It is a loose dress of a woolen gown worn by both men and women. This plain version for men includes a scarf, known as a chadar.
- Fabric: Wool or tweed should be worn during winter and cotton suits in summer.
- Style Tip: A turban or a hat, commonly seen in Kashmir, is a good choice to complete this look.
2. Shalwar-Kameez & Waistcoat
The shalwar-kameez and waistcoat worn by men in Jammu are influenced by both Punjabi and Dogra cultures.
3. Gurgabi (Traditional Footwear)
The gurgabi shoes are made of leather and wool, and help to protect your feet from the cold during winter.
Traditional Attire for Women in Kashmir
1. Style of Kashmiri Pheran for Women
Generally, women’s pherans are more attractive than men’s. They express refinement and beauty when adorned with exquisite aari or sozni embroidery.
- Embroidery Patterns: Floral motifs, paisley, and chinar leaves
- Color Palette: Vibrant, Bright and earthy tones
2. Taranga – The Wedding Headgear
Donning a taranga is significant for Kashmiri Pandit brides because it stands for their culture and heritage.
3. Jewelry & Accessories
Women choose to wear loads of silver jewelry.
- Jiggni & Tikka – Headpieces
- Nath – Traditional nose ring
Dejhor – Married women’s long gold earrings
Traditional Dress of Dogras (Jammu Region)
A ghagra-choli and odhni are the traditional outfits for women in the Dogra community in the Jammu region. In most cases, men wear kurta-pyjamas and either safas or turbans.
Material
Depending on the season, you can wear clothing made from cotton, silk, or wool.
Highlights
One interesting feature is that women’s clothing uses zari and mirror work.
Ladakhi Traditional Costumes
While Ladakh is not situated inside Kashmir Valley, the regions have similar pasts and traditions.
For Men
Goncha – A robe worn over your body with a belt around your waist.
For Women
Perak – The Perak from Bali is decorated with turquoise stones.
Jewelry
Most jewelry pieces are ornamented with silver and turquoise.
Why the Traditional Dress of Kashmir Still Matters Today
Kashmiri attire is a living heritage that people have worn for generations. It includes history, climate, the work of artisans and who a culture is. Traditions are being preserved as a result of people wearing traditional clothing during festivals and tours.
Pros and Cons of Wearing Traditional Kashmiri Costumesions
Pros
- Preserves cultural identity
- Offers warmth and comfort
- Unique and visually appealing
Cons
- Less practical for modern settings
- Can be expensive due to handmade work
- Limited availability in urban areas
Expert Tip
Be sure to check for genuine handmade embroidery when purchasing or donning traditional Kashmiri attire. Encourage regional craftspeople to keep this amazing skill alive.
Final Words
This was the complete list of attires and traditional dresses worn by Kashmiris during winters and summers. The entire region of J&K displays rich ethnicity and craftsmanship through their dresses, whether it’s about embroidery done on pheran or the handwoven pashmina shawls.
Even after modern attire being flourished and adopted around Kashmir, the traditional ethnicity has preserved itself among the hearts of locals.
FAQs
Q1. Can I rent a pheran and kasaba for a photoshoot in Kashmir?
Q2. Which cloth is famous in Kashmir?
Ans: Kashmiri pashmina shawls are famous; they are made out of Changthangi goat hairs, which are soft and luxurious.
Q3. What are some jewelry pieces worn by Kashmiri women?
Ans: The traditional Kashmiri jewelry includes dejhoor (earrings), gunu (thick bangles), and tikka (forehead ornament).
Q4. What kind of footwear do locals wear in Kashmir?
Ans: Usually you will see modern shoes, but traditional Kashmiri footwear are phularoo and khraw, which were made out of wood.
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