Salwar Kameez – history & description

With over 1 billion citizens, India is the second most populous nation in the world. It is impossible to speak of any one Indian culture, although there are deep cultural continuities that tie its people together. India has been known to have wonderful dresses and costumes specially Salwar Kameez. Though the majority of Indian women wear traditional costumes, the men in India can be found in more conventional western clothing.

It is believed to originate with the Turkic-Iranian horse riding steppe peoples of Central Asia. A number of these tribes converted to Islam. Starting in the 12th century, a series of raids and invasions established Islamic Turkic-Iranian rule -- the Delhi sultanate and later the Moghul empire -- over much of what is now northern India and Pakistan. Fashion followed rule, and the salwar suit become popular throughout the area. It now has no association with Islam, being worn by women of many religions. Traditionally, Salwar Kameez was worn in Punjab, but is now worn almost everywhere, particularly among the younger generations.

Indian dressing styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional with a wide choice of textures and styles. Although the sari is the predominant form of dress for Indian women, it is not the only one. Other Indian garments include the following:

• Choli - worn with a sari. The choli is a tight-fitting top with a bare midriff and an open back. It has a rounded neckline; some have ties at the back neck and across the shoulder blades. It originally served as a bust support. Now often replaced with commercial blouses.
• Ghagra - a pleated or gathered skirt reaching to mid-shin/ankle length. May contain 20-30 yards of fabric. Worn with a choli or kameez.
• Salwar - very long trousers with a band at the ankle. Fullness falls in folds and conceals shape of legs. Worn with a Kameez, a long tunic, slightly flared at the hip with slits at the sides, reaches the knees.
• Orhna - long scarf worn over the kameez. May be used to cover the head or face.

A popular, comfortable and convenient dress is the salwar kameez (also spelled shalwar kameez and shalwar qamiz) or churidar kurta; is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in South Asia. Salvars or salwars or shalvars are loose pyjama-like trousers which taper slightly towards the ankles, while the churidar is a tight-fitting trouser which gathers at the ankles. These gathers at the ankles look like bangles (churis) and hence the name. A dupatta generally completes the ensemble. The kameez or the kurta is a knee-length flowing tunic worn over a salwar or churidar. The side seams (known as the chaak) are left open below the waist-line, which gives the wearer greater freedom of movement.

Salwar Kameez helps keep cool on those hot sweltering days as it doesn't cling to the body. The salwar kameez spares you the mental agony you may experience while on a date that your panty line is showing - usually the case with hip-hugging low-waisters. Nor do you have to face the humiliation of a 'free show' when the wind runs away with your skirt.