India does not have a particular national dress that represents the whole country. As it is such a large country with many different regions and climates, the dress can vary from one area to another. It can also vary depending on local religion and culture.
- Men
In India, the traditional style of dress for men is the dhoti or lungi. This is a long white sheet of cloth and men will wear a shirt or t-shirt over it. Kurta-pyjama and European and Western influenced trousers and shirts are also becoming more popular among men. On very formal occasions such as weddings, men may wear a Western-influenced three piece suit. They may also choose to wear a sherwani, which is a long, coat-like jacket that reaches down to just below the knees. It has a collar that stands up, known as a 'Nehru collar', and is fastened with buttons. The sherwani is worn with tighter fitting trousers called churidars.
- Women
The draped sari is generally considered to be one of the most popular forms of traditional Indian dress for women. They can be made out of a range of different fabrics, although silk saris still reign as the most elegant choice. The sari is usually worn over a blouse, by girls and women of all ages. Some women also wear stitched clothes such as the shalwar kameez, and other garments including the gaghra cholis (lehengas), sherwani, kurta, dupatta and churidar. The shalwar kameez consists of loose trousers (the shalwar) and a long loose top (the kameez). This is the style of dress seen worn by women in many Bollywood films.
- Men
In India, the traditional style of dress for men is the dhoti or lungi. This is a long white sheet of cloth and men will wear a shirt or t-shirt over it. Kurta-pyjama and European and Western influenced trousers and shirts are also becoming more popular among men. On very formal occasions such as weddings, men may wear a Western-influenced three piece suit. They may also choose to wear a sherwani, which is a long, coat-like jacket that reaches down to just below the knees. It has a collar that stands up, known as a 'Nehru collar', and is fastened with buttons. The sherwani is worn with tighter fitting trousers called churidars.
- Women
The draped sari is generally considered to be one of the most popular forms of traditional Indian dress for women. They can be made out of a range of different fabrics, although silk saris still reign as the most elegant choice. The sari is usually worn over a blouse, by girls and women of all ages. Some women also wear stitched clothes such as the shalwar kameez, and other garments including the gaghra cholis (lehengas), sherwani, kurta, dupatta and churidar. The shalwar kameez consists of loose trousers (the shalwar) and a long loose top (the kameez). This is the style of dress seen worn by women in many Bollywood films.
