A generation ago, the
turban was the "crowning glory" of all Punjabis whether Muslim, Hindu or
Sikh. Muslims and Hindus have given up their turbans, but it
remains, literally, an article of faith for Sikh
men whose religion forbids them to cut their hair. The
kurta, a long
straight-cut, loose shirt teamed with
pyjamas, the loose baggy
salwar,
or a kind of sarong called a loongi or tehmat makes up the traditional
dress for men. Winter sees the rustic Punjabi in colourful sweaters that
wives and mothers are so skilled in making. A blanket finishes his
ensemble. When the urban, educated Punjabi steps out to work he will be
in shirt and pant or a suit—sartorially indistinguishable from his
counterparts in Tokyo or Toronto. Back home in the evening, he is likely
to be found in more traditional dress. The traditional Punjabi shoes,
called juttis retain their popularity with both rural and urban
men; they are both elegant and comfortable. Patiala and Muktsar are
famous for juttis.
It is impossible to tell by dress whether a Punjabi woman is a
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian – they all dress in salwar topped by a
kameez (a garment that can be fitted like a dress loose like the
kurta)
and accented by a rectangular scarf about 2.5 metres long called the
chunni or duppatta.She’s fond of her sweaters, but she is passionately
proud of her collection of woollen shawls. These can be breathtaking.
The women of Punjab are responsible for the state’s most famous item of
handicraft – the phulkari.
Thisis a shawl completely
covered in dense silk embroidery, folk motifs in jewel-tones on an ochre
background. Gold is her weakness – brides are loaded with it. The
jewellers of Punjab stock an enormous range of designs in bangles,
necklaces, rings and earrings, nose-pins, ornaments to pin in the hair,
anklets and toe-rings. A particular kind of bangle is the tip-off in
recognising Sikh men and women. It’s called a kada and is made of
steel.
A generation ago, the
turban was the "crowning glory" of all Punjabis whether Muslim, Hindu or
Sikh. Muslims and Hindus have given up their turbans, but it
remains, literally, an article of faith for Sikh
men whose religion forbids them to cut their hair. The
kurta, a long
straight-cut, loose shirt teamed with
pyjamas, the loose baggy
salwar,
or a kind of sarong called a loongi or tehmat makes up the traditional
dress for men. Winter sees the rustic Punjabi in colourful sweaters that
wives and mothers are so skilled in making. A blanket finishes his
ensemble. When the urban, educated Punjabi steps out to work he will be
in shirt and pant or a suit—sartorially indistinguishable from his
counterparts in Tokyo or Toronto. Back home in the evening, he is likely
to be found in more traditional dress. The traditional Punjabi shoes,
called juttis retain their popularity with both rural and urban
men; they are both elegant and comfortable. Patiala and Muktsar are
famous for juttis.
