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Uttarakhand
In the northern part of India, on the foothills of the Himalayas, lies ‘Devbhumi’– translated as “Land of Gods”; this Devbhumi is none other than Uttarakhand. Carved out of a part of Uttar Pradesh, this is the 27th state of India. Several renowned Hindu temples and pilgrimages like Badrinath, Kedarnath, and Gangotri attract thousands of tourists annually. There is archeological research that suggests the existence of human beings living here, since the prehistoric and Vedic ages. If one refers to the Puranas, the name Uttarakhand was the name of the central Indian Himalayas. The history of Uttarakhand is, without a doubt, one of the most mystical and fascinating ones! It was believed that this region was inhabited by the righteous Rishis and Sadhus in ancient India, preceded by the Gods. That’s how this land became such a notable pilgrimage place. Legend has it, that when the Pandavas wanted Lord Shiva’s forgiveness for killing their blood relatives, Shiva wanted to hide from them in the form of a bull roaming in the Himalayas. The more one dives into the history of this place; the more legendary tales come up. Tribal people heavily occupy the entire region, and their arts and crafts make a sizeable contribution. For example, the Bhotias of Uttarakhand is known for their woolen handicrafts. Similarly, the arts and crafts of this hill station are equally fantastic- Be it the famous Garhwal Paintings, the art of Sacred Geometry of Aipaan and Peeth, or even their one-of-a-kind jewellery-making skills.
Traditional Clothing of Uttarakhand
Women
Simplicity and elegance go hand-in-hand with what women of Jharkhand wear. The respect and integrity they show towards their community’s culture, and traditions largely contribute towards the nature of their clothing.
Sarees, particularly silk sarees, are preferred by women. Usually very vibrant, and colourful, these sarees come in numerous styles. They have a rich and luxurious appearance and texture while representing the tribal lifestyle with prints and paintings. Hand embroidery is also a convenient form of decorating a saree. Tussar, Kuchai, Anjana, and Swarnareksha silks are very popular in the area to make sarees with. The Kuchai Silk is a local fabric that originated in Jharkhand, specifically in the Kharsawan-Kuchai and Seraikela areas. It is made using cocoons grown on the Arjun and Sal trees.
Typically worn by Jain and Buddhist women, sarees and others not belonging to any tribal communities are limited to them. This is because tribal women wear the traditional ‘parthan and panchi.’
‘Panchi’ refers to the bottom wear, which is a three-meter-long, ankle-length skirt wrapped around a woman’s waist. The bust is covered with a blouse called the ‘parthan’. A piece of cloth similar to the pallu is draped over the shoulder to give a saree-like look to the outfit.
Men
The state's dynamic culture has led to a creative expression of style by men. While they are not as fashion-forward as women, they respect their ethnic nuances and tradition of Jharkhand. Only a single piece of cloth, referred to as ‘bhagwan’ is worn by the men of Jharkhand. This cloth is draped in a way that covers a man’s body almost entirely - similar to traditional dress of jharkhand. It is brightly coloured and made using a fine-textured cloth, giving it a unique appeal. Tribes like the Santhal Pargana, also known as the Santhals and Paharis, mainly wear this.
Men from other tribes or religious communities prefer to wear a simple kurta and pyjama. This attire is traditional and still portrays their rich culture and heritage adequately. High-quality silk is used to make the kurtas, later designed with paintings and motifs representing the original tribal life. Chiffon is also used at times since colours appear more vibrantly on fabrics with a fine texture.
Staple Jewellery & Accessories
As mentioned earlier, Uttarakhand's local artisans and jewellery-makers are highly skilled. Gold jewellery is famous in this region, and some very traditional pieces include the Bulaq- a big nose ring worn by the tribal women of Jaunsari, Garhwal, and Kumaon. Hansuli or, Hansli is a very famous type of necklace that gained popularity here. This piece of jewellery is worn very close to the neck, almost like a choker,
and is made of different metals like silver, gold, and brass. When it comes to ornamenting the hands, bangles known as, Pahunchi are made by attaching gold balls to red tassels.
Fashion Evolution
The majority of traditional fashion has now blended or merged entirely with what is considered contemporary. The men and women of Jharkhand have given into trends and modern influences. On occasion,
they are spotted wearing their traditional jharkhand attire, but they often stick to more ‘in vogue’ clothing items.