Rajasthan's Traditional Dress & Ornaments — REET EVS Notes

Rajasthani dress

Rajasthan's traditional women's dress is called the 'Rajputi poshak', and it has three main parts — the ghagra, a long, flared skirt; the kanchli or kurti, the upper garment; and the odhni, a veil that covers both the head and the body. These garments are commonly decorated using tie-and-dye techniques such as bandhani (also called bandhej) and lehariya, colourful patterned dyeing styles that form a special identity of Jodhpur and Jaipur.

Men's traditional dress includes the pagdi, also called a safa or turban, along with the angarkha as the upper garment and a dhoti or pyjama below. The style of tying a pagdi varies quite noticeably by region — the Jaipuri, Jodhpuri (Marwari), Mewari and Bikaneri pagdi styles each have their own distinct look and identity, and traditionally, the colour of the pagdi also changes according to the occasion, such as a wedding, a period of mourning, or a festival.

Traditional ornaments — by body part

REET often asks 'which body part is this ornament worn on', so learning by body part is the most effective approach.

A few special ornaments and their significance

Borla

A round, bell-shaped ornament that is worn at the very centre of the forehead, and is traditionally considered a marker of a married woman.

Nath (nathni)

A large nose ring worn in the left nostril, often connected to the ear by a fine chain running across the cheek; it is traditionally regarded as a symbol of being married.

Bichhiya

A silver ring worn on the toes of the feet, and traditionally, like the nath, worn by married women as a marker of their marital status.

Kundan and Meenakari jewellery

Jaipur is especially famous for jewellery made using two particular techniques — kundan, which is a method of gem-setting, and meenakari, which involves coloured enamel work.

Chooda/bangdi

The tradition of wearing several bangles together on the wrist, known as chooda, is an integral and highly visible part of Rajasthani women's traditional adornment.

Cultural significance of dress and ornaments

Rajasthan's dress and ornaments aren't just decoration — they also serve as markers of social identity. The particular style of clothing and jewellery a person wears often hints at their marital status, their region and their community; nath and bichhiya, for instance, are traditionally associated specifically with married women. Given the desert climate, loose, light garments and a head-and-face-covering odhni also serve a practical purpose by helping protect the wearer against sun and dust, in addition to their decorative and cultural role.

Even today, wearing traditional dress and ornaments at weddings and festivals remains a living tradition across Rajasthan, and this continuing practice also boosts the state's tourism and handicraft industries — including meenakari work, kundan jewellery, and lac bangles.

Using this in the classroom

At the primary level, teaching children to recognise the traditional dress and jewellery worn in their own family and surroundings connects directly to EVS's broader aim of studying one's own environment. This kind of learning builds both pride in and awareness of their cultural roots, at an age when that foundation matters most.

Regional and social diversity

Some diversity is seen across Rajasthan's different regions and communities when it comes to dress and ornaments — for instance, the odhni and lehariya style typical of Marwar (Jodhpur) differs noticeably from that of Mewar (Udaipur), and tribal communities such as the Bhils have their own distinct jewellery and clothing traditions, often using cheaper metal and simpler designs than the Rajputi tradition. This regional and community-level diversity reflects the state's rich cultural plurality.

Over time, the material used for jewellery has also changed considerably — silver and gold were traditionally the materials of choice, but today many rural and working families adopt lighter, cheaper alternatives, such as German silver or artificial jewellery, especially for everyday use, while the heavier traditional gold and silver pieces are kept back and worn only on special occasions.

How to teach children

Practice Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

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