Indian Wedding Dress
Indian Wedding Dress and Wedding Traditions
Marriage assumes immense importance in Indian social and religious life. It is widely regarded as one of the most important steps a person will take in their life. Indian society is based around the family, often an extended one, and marriage involves more than just the union of two people. It joins together families and communities. Because of the importance Indians give to marriage, weddings are major religious and social events, often attracting hundreds of guests.
As well as being vibrant and exciting events, Indian weddings also provide a setting for colorful displays of wedding costumes and wedding jewellery. Indian bridal wear includes gorgeous saris, the elegant lahanga made of bright-colored brocades and textured silks that lend a traditional touch with a dash of sensuality, and the traditional salwar kameez.
A lahanga suit is a full gathered skirt worn with a choli and odhani, while a salwar kameez consists of trousers gathered at the ankle, and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with a dupatta shawl of red and gold.
Muslim brides usually wear either a lahanga suit or salwar kameez, while Sikh brides usually wear the salwar kameez with a dupatta. Muslim brides and brides from northern India are more likely to cover their head, whereas brides from central and southern India tend to leave their heads uncovered. Southern Indian brides often wear flowers in their hair.
Wedding garments are generally made of rich materials such as silk and velvet, and are often embroidered and trimmed in gold thread, which is believed to bring good fortune.
Red, pink, and maroon are popular colors for garments, as red is considered the most auspicious color for weddings. It symbolizes life, joy, energy, abundance, fertility, and marital bliss. Most colors can be worn at an Indian wedding, and it is up to the bride and groom to decide. However, both black and white are considered inappropriate colors for a wedding.
The bride's parents give wedding clothes and jewelry to her before the ceremony. After the wedding, the bride changes into clothes and jewelry given to her by her husband's family. She wears these at the reception or during the 'going away' ceremony.
In addition to the wedding costumes, both families give the bride as many saris as they can afford - but they must give an odd number, as these numbers are considered auspicious.
Bridal wedding jewelry includes beautiful gold and silver ornaments and necklaces, bangles, and garlands. Brides are also intricately decorated with traditional body adornments such as mehandi (henna).
The men's look is more regal - there are sherwanis inspired from the Moghul era and long kurtis with gold embroidery and crushed dupattas. Bridal men's look is more simple with embellishments and accessories like dupattas teamed with traditional chunky jewelry and mojris. Men's wedding costumes also include princely turbans, smart 'Nehru'-style cufni suits, and swords.
According to Indian fashion designer Vikram Phadnis a bridal trousseau must include:
A formal, heavy sari
A couple of simple light salwar or churidaar-kurta sets
Sleep wear - a couple of nice lingerie setsIndian fusion wear for home: short kurtis, pants, ponchos, etc.
A corset: this can be teamed with everything like saris, a crushed skirt, a lehenga and even denims.
Gold shoes.
While there are wide variations in Indian weddings because of significant regional and religious differences, at the heart of all of them is a devout faith, and recognition by all Indian communities of the importance of marriage.
Marriage assumes immense importance in Indian social and religious life. It is widely regarded as one of the most important steps a person will take in their life. Indian society is based around the family, often an extended one, and marriage involves more than just the union of two people. It joins together families and communities. Because of the importance Indians give to marriage, weddings are major religious and social events, often attracting hundreds of guests.
As well as being vibrant and exciting events, Indian weddings also provide a setting for colorful displays of wedding costumes and wedding jewellery. Indian bridal wear includes gorgeous saris, the elegant lahanga made of bright-colored brocades and textured silks that lend a traditional touch with a dash of sensuality, and the traditional salwar kameez.
A lahanga suit is a full gathered skirt worn with a choli and odhani, while a salwar kameez consists of trousers gathered at the ankle, and a three-quarter-length embroidered tunic with a dupatta shawl of red and gold.
Muslim brides usually wear either a lahanga suit or salwar kameez, while Sikh brides usually wear the salwar kameez with a dupatta. Muslim brides and brides from northern India are more likely to cover their head, whereas brides from central and southern India tend to leave their heads uncovered. Southern Indian brides often wear flowers in their hair.
Wedding garments are generally made of rich materials such as silk and velvet, and are often embroidered and trimmed in gold thread, which is believed to bring good fortune.
Red, pink, and maroon are popular colors for garments, as red is considered the most auspicious color for weddings. It symbolizes life, joy, energy, abundance, fertility, and marital bliss. Most colors can be worn at an Indian wedding, and it is up to the bride and groom to decide. However, both black and white are considered inappropriate colors for a wedding.
The bride's parents give wedding clothes and jewelry to her before the ceremony. After the wedding, the bride changes into clothes and jewelry given to her by her husband's family. She wears these at the reception or during the 'going away' ceremony.
In addition to the wedding costumes, both families give the bride as many saris as they can afford - but they must give an odd number, as these numbers are considered auspicious.
Bridal wedding jewelry includes beautiful gold and silver ornaments and necklaces, bangles, and garlands. Brides are also intricately decorated with traditional body adornments such as mehandi (henna).
The men's look is more regal - there are sherwanis inspired from the Moghul era and long kurtis with gold embroidery and crushed dupattas. Bridal men's look is more simple with embellishments and accessories like dupattas teamed with traditional chunky jewelry and mojris. Men's wedding costumes also include princely turbans, smart 'Nehru'-style cufni suits, and swords.
According to Indian fashion designer Vikram Phadnis a bridal trousseau must include:
A formal, heavy sari
A couple of simple light salwar or churidaar-kurta sets
Sleep wear - a couple of nice lingerie setsIndian fusion wear for home: short kurtis, pants, ponchos, etc.
A corset: this can be teamed with everything like saris, a crushed skirt, a lehenga and even denims.
Gold shoes.
While there are wide variations in Indian weddings because of significant regional and religious differences, at the heart of all of them is a devout faith, and recognition by all Indian communities of the importance of marriage.
1 Comments:
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SHOPOSHOP - Buy your Desi Shalwar Kameez, Kurta Shalwar and Salwar Kamiz.
SHOPNFUN - Selling Desi Women Clothing including Pakistani Kurtis, Salwar Kameez, Kurta Salwar and Alot more.
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