Traditional outfit of Punjab - Salwar kameez

Traditional outfit of Punjab - Salwar kameez

The salwar kameez popularly known as the Punjabi suit is the traditional dress of men and women of Punjab. It comprises of a pair of trousers known as the salwar and a tunic known as kameez. The suits were traditionally beautifully embellished with hand embroidery but nowadays the market is flooded with machine work Punjabi suits. The salwar kameez is generally paired with a dupatta which can be either plain or have decorative embroidered pattern around it. Many women prefer keeping the dupatta over their head but it can be draped in various styles as well. Punjabi women prefer bright-coloured suit with heavy embroidery. The kameez has slits on both the sides and the salwar is wide at the top but fits closely to the legs and is gathered at the ankles. The kameez can be worn with a salwar, lungi, dhoti and Punjabi ghagra. The traditional kameez is a loose-fitting, knee length tunic with long sleeves. The kameez can be sewn straight and flat or flowing like a dress as well. It has many designs and can be made with different types of decorative materials like gotta patti, pearls, stones or simple buttons as well.

The salwar kameez is believed to have been originated from the costumes of Mughals, who were the Muslim rulers and ruled Punjab for quite some time. Originally worn only in Punjab, now salwar kameez is a popular outfit not only in India but abroad also. The Punjabi suit is cut differently to the styles worn in Baluchistan and Afghanistan. In some parts of the Punjab region men also wear the Punjabi suit but it is generally plain in design. They pair their trousers with a shorter tunic or kurta which is the male version of the kameez. The kameez with its side slits in the Punjabi kurta can be traced back to the 11^th century C.E. female kurtaka worn in parts of north India.

The Punjabi suthan and kurta suit is an outfit with a very long history. In rural Punjab the salwar is still known as suthan. The Punjabi suthan is a local variation of the ancient svasthana tight fitting trousers which have been used in the Punjab region for a very long time and was worn with the tunic called varbana which was also tight fitted. The Punjabi suthan has plaits and is made up of large amount of material and it ends at the ankles with a tight band which distinguishes the suthan from a salwar.

The Punjabi ghagra is traditional apparel which can be paired beautifully with kameez. It was worn even before the advent of Punjabi suit and is still worn in parts of the Punjab region. The ghagra has its origin in the candataka, which became a popular garment in the Gupta period.

The popularity of the salwar kameez among young Indian women is linked to societal changes. Traditionally after marriage the women would switch to wearing sari which was generally after attaining puberty but with the passage of time women started marrying late which created confusion as to which kind of outfit can be worn while they were still single adults. Thus, they turned to salwar kameez which suited their requirements. The popularity of Punjabi suits was made during the 1960’s through Hindi cinema. Punjabi suits are very popular among young women in Britain and Bangladesh. It has spread worldwide and new designs and styles keep coming up every now and then. Originally made out of cotton material, silk, crape, georgette, khadi silk etc. is also used as the fabric in the making of this beautiful outfit. Punjabi suits add to your comfort and a perfect choice for anyone as they are also a flexible choice. The salwar kameez suits are a symbol for decency and a girl’s honor and respect.