Weddings are windows to the profuse cultural cornucopia of a community. The gorgeously lit lights, the scent of the auspicious haldi (turmeric) and the tapestry of flowers adorning the house is a vision to behold. However, what everyone looks forward to in a wedding is the bridal trousseau ! Although ivory, beige and a muted colour palette have tucked a chord with the contemporary brides, there are many women across the country who continues to shun trends and embrace tradition. Here are 10 wedding attires in the list that you must-have in your bridal trousseau.
- Banarasi Saree– A Bengali bride is incomplete without her sholar mukut, shakha-pola, chandaner kaaj and of course the gorgeous and intricately embroidered Banarasi Red or pink Banarasi saree transforms the Bengali bride into a divine goddess. Nothing can complement the Banarasi saree of the bride like the red alta smeared beautifully around her feet and palm.
- Potloi– Garbed in the most magical attire ever, the Manipuri bride looks nothing less than a princess in the spectacular potloi. This magnificent costume was introduced and popularized by Maharaj Bhagya Chandra. The highlight of potloi is that it is made from iridescent toned fabrics and is immersed in the starch to achieve the stiffness of the attire. The skirt is custom-made to fit the size of the bride and may take around 20 days to complete the skirt!
- Dhara or Jainesm– The Khashi bride of Meghalaya drapes herself to perfection in dhara or Jainesm (this is known in their local language) complementing with her groom who wears the Jymphong (a long coat devoid of any collar or sleeves). These wedding attires are known for their detail and comprises of not one but several pieces of layering that renders a cylindrical shape to the bride’s body. The bridal attire remains incomplete without a crown etched out of gold or silver that is attached to a peak at the back.
- Chanderi– Born in Madhya Pradesh, chanderi sarees have enthralled generations for their sheer texture and the intricate embroidery done with silver and gold. The lightweight and the glossy texture of the sari make it ideal for pre-wedding ritual attire. The hallmark feature of chanderi saris are the motifs of coin, peacocks, lotuses, geometric figures and the celestial figures.
- Dharmavaram silk– Telugu weddings encompass grandeur, splendour and elaborate rituals with their subtext intact. Telugu brides look bespoke in their Dharmavaram or Kanjeevarm silk that channels out their inner goddess. The regal temple jewelleries enhance her bespoke bridal trousseau.
- Pheran– Garbed in the traditional pheran, the Kashmiri Pundit brides ooze glamour on her big day! The pheran is made of raffle that boasts of the ari or the hook embroidery at the neck, edges and the cuff. The pheran is red in colour and captivates everyone around for its scintillating effects. Apart from this, the bride wears the headwear or the kalpush. Zoojh is a white cloth that is wrapped into three layers over Kalpush and in addition, a glace paper is stitched over the Kalpush. This elaborate headwear is called Tarang.
- Panetar and gharchola– The panetar and the gharchola saris are indispensible in the bridal closet of a Gujarati bride. She drapes herself in the Panetar saree ( white sari with red border) that is bestowed by her maternal uncle. The in-laws present the Gharchola to the bride. With the conclusion of her wedding ceremony, the bride changes her panetar saree and drapes herself in the gharchola.
- Paithani – A Marathi bride on her wedding day gives tough competition to the stars and the moon. Reason? Her magnificent paithani sari weaved with silk and gold is poetry in draping! The Paithani saris are known for their oblique square designs with peacocks, kaleidoscope and the signature parrot motifs peacefully encased within the rich gold border.
- Kasavu– The Kerala Hindu bride looks ethereal and pristine in her Kerala Kasavu sari that is known for its plain white canvas contoured with golden border. The gold jewelleries adorning the sari makes the bride look nothing less an angel on her big day.
- Naavari– The bride from Karnataka drapes herself in the traditional 9 yards Naavari sari. Giving company to her bridal attire is her green glass bangles, gold jewellery and kamarbandh around the waist. In the Balija community, the bride wears a white saree with brightly coloured borders.
.
10 wedding attires
Picture source:https://www.pinterest.com