Dhotar or Dhoti - DOT-Maharashtra Tourism
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Dhotar or Dhoti
Districts / Region
Maharashtra, India.
Unique Features
The men in rural Maharashtra are seen wearing a Dhotar or
Dhoti. A Dhoti is a single piece of cloth tucked around the
waist. Dhoti covers the entire leg till the ankle. The colour of
Dhotis usually ranges from saffron, cream or white. Dhoti is an
unstitched piece of clothing that does not require any proper
measurements.
Feta is the headdress Marathi men wear. Feta is even known
as a 'topi' too. It is a headcover usually made up of cotton.
Travellers and people working outside, under the sun
especially wear this. It is also worn at ceremonies and
festivals.
Maharashtrian men usually wear cotton tops or Kurtas along
with Dhoti. They are useful in the hot and humid conditions
that exist in Maharashtra. These tops are thin and loose and
usually white in colour. The Maharashtrian men occasionally
wear waistcoat-s that make the Maharashtrian attire look more
formal and proper. It is useful keeping in mind the local
climatic conditions which do not allow men to wear normal
coats or overcoats.
Traditionally the men wear simple but sturdy footwear. Their
footwears are open sandals making them comfortable for them
to wear. The sandals are strong and sturdy footwear that are
prepared from leather.
Traditionally women wear sarees that are nine yards long.
There are many variations in how women wear their saree.
Some only wear knee-length sarees. Some of the women like
to wear it in a skirt manner without the tuck in the middle.
However, the 9-yard saree is the traditional costume of
women in Maharashtra State. Women do not use separate
headwear as the men do and hence, it is noticing that they
simply use the end of their sarees to cover their heads.
The Maharashtrian women wear choli or blouse underneath
the saree to cover the upper half of the body. Similar to men's
clothing, women's clothing is also made up of cotton and
sometimes silk.
Nath or a nose ring is part of the traditional Maharashtrian
attire for women. They are normally made up of gold, pearls,
rubies and emeralds. Different kinds of jewellery are also part
of their traditional attire. A Mangalsutra, green bangles and
sindoor on the forehead are enough to recognise a married
Maharashtrian woman. Toe rings are also an important part of
a Maharashtrian woman’s attire.
It is a reality that, due to urbanisation, a majority of
Maharashtrian people have adapted the western style of
clothing and even a merger of the Indian and western styles
(kurta and pants etc.). However, elderly people still prefer to
wear traditional clothes. For them, comfort is a subsidiary to
tradition.
Cultural Significance
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