Indian Accessories

Indian Ghagra/Lehenga- choli consists of a long skirt, lehenga, having flair towards the bottom resembling a flowing robe. Starting from the waist it touches the ankle. The top of the lehenga is a short or long- length Indian blouse

called choli. Along with these is a dupatta, a long rectangular piece of cloth that is draped over the head or around the neck to cover the front upper portion. Both ghagra/lehenga and choli are tailored exquisitely in matching colors and beautiful designs made in expensive materials like tusser, silk, crepe, georgette etc. The dupatta also enhances the look of the wearer with its matching shade, fabulous designs and embellishments.

In fact one lehenga choli differs from another in the distribution of designs and patterns. The designs of the costume vary according to the concept of the designer or the manufacturer and also to the demands of the consumers.

Usually the lehenga choli is adorned with various types of embroidery works such as mirror, art, kundan embroidery, colorful beads, enchanting zardozi embroidery and zari work. Zardozi, zari is the Indian name for it, is an embroidery work using gold and silver threads usually practiced in Persia. A proper blend of tradition with modern techniques can produce a lehenga in shot- colors, a base consisting of two different colors, one intermingling with the other. Again you can view the wonderful intermingling display of zardozi and boota works. This is the latest innovation created in lehenga-choli by the modern dress-designers. As time continues its journey human tastes also take new forms. Now days women are more concerned about the simple, yet the perfect mixing and matching of colors and the attractive looks of the drapery.

Sparkling expensive accessories like gold, kundan or gem-studded ornaments highlight the beauty of the lehengas. In a majestic looking ghagra/lehenga-choli a bride looks like a beautiful queen on her wedding day. The ornate look of this pretty costume is preferred as bridal dress among the brides in most of the communities in India. The gorgeous outfit is also suitable for various religious functions, and other special ceremonies. Lehenga-choli is used as a daily wear among the Banjara, the traditional Indian tribe, the beautiful women of Rajasthan and the young girls and women in North Indian villages.

In South India little and teen girls wear a long lehenga-like skirt known as Pavada or lenga. In parts of North India girls wear this long majestic attire called ghagra/lehenga while celebrating weddings. In the East, lehenga is termed as “mekla”, their traditional wear, available in eye-catching designs. The cost of a lehenga depends on the texture used. It may be anything between $7.5 and $750 or even more. Today’s brides wear glittering bridal lehengas ranging $3000-5000 or above.