Dupatta: The Most Versatile of All Accessories
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The dupatta is a long scarf-like cloth that can be worn with several ethnic Indian ensembles, Indo-Western ensembles, in a number of styles and can feature a myriad of colors and embellishments. Also known as the odhani, chunni or chunari in different regions of India, the dupatta is commonly associated with the ghagra choli and salwar kameez attires. Although, the dupatta is the most essential yet the most underutilized of all ethnic accessories, it is a soft, dreamy addition to ethnic attires. Based on region as well as creative vision of the designer in urban areas, dupattas can be made in a vast variety of fabrics like silk, cotton, chiffon, georgette and net, among others.
At the time of its origin, the purpose of the dupatta was to cover the head and the upper body along with being a symbol of subservience in the traditional stratification of society. Remnants of traditional beliefs and practices still remain in terms of women covering their heads using the dupatta while visiting places of worship, during marriage ceremonies and at the time of greeting their elders. The better part of the modern day scenario however, has seen it become a fashion accessory and a make-or-break feature of ethnic garments.
While there is no count and no restriction on the kind of embroidery that can be done on a dupatta (since it is so versatile in terms of fabric usage and occasion) there are three variants of the traditional dupatta that are extremely popular. The chiffon, Bandhej or Bandhni and Khara dupattas are iconic and are associated with Bollywood, Rajasthan and Hyderabad, respectively.
Styles of wearing the dupatta may vary based on the personal preference of the wearer, its relevance to the ensemble and the occasion it is being worn for. The overarching rule however, is that a heavily decorated dupatta is paired with a relatively simple attire and vice versa.
At the time of its origin, the purpose of the dupatta was to cover the head and the upper body along with being a symbol of subservience in the traditional stratification of society. Remnants of traditional beliefs and practices still remain in terms of women covering their heads using the dupatta while visiting places of worship, during marriage ceremonies and at the time of greeting their elders. The better part of the modern day scenario however, has seen it become a fashion accessory and a make-or-break feature of ethnic garments.
While there is no count and no restriction on the kind of embroidery that can be done on a dupatta (since it is so versatile in terms of fabric usage and occasion) there are three variants of the traditional dupatta that are extremely popular. The chiffon, Bandhej or Bandhni and Khara dupattas are iconic and are associated with Bollywood, Rajasthan and Hyderabad, respectively.
Styles of wearing the dupatta may vary based on the personal preference of the wearer, its relevance to the ensemble and the occasion it is being worn for. The overarching rule however, is that a heavily decorated dupatta is paired with a relatively simple attire and vice versa.
