Transformation of the Kurta Pajama
The kurta pajama is one of the traditional attires in the Indian Culture. The kurta was paired with a pajama, Dhoti or a Churidar but down the ages, the kurta pajama has undergone plenty of transformations.
Origin of the Kurta: The kurta pajama find its roots in the Indian subcontinent. The dress is quite common in countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The Persian meaning of the word Kurta actually means a collarless shirt but some of its variants come with a collar. Made out of cotton, linen or silk, Kurtas come with a lot of handmade work such as embroidery which gives it a unique look.
Unisex Clothing: Though the kurta pajama was originally men’s clothing it has become an outfit for both the genders.
Various types of Kurtas: There are different types of Kurtas. The Lucknowi kurtas for men which are made out of Chikan were popularized by the Nawabs of Lucknow. The Hyderabadi kurta are usually white in colour but is available now in many colours. Hailing from the central state of India, Madhya Pradesh, the Bhopali kurta was introduced by the Begum of Bhopal, Sultan Jehan. The Dogri kurta is from the state of Jammu which is worn with patialas or churidars. The Punjabi kurta is a straight cut kurta. The Muktsari kurta belongs to the state of Punjab. The Phulkari kurta and the Bandhani kurta belong to the provinces of Rajasthan and Gujarat. The Bengali Punjabi kurta uses the Kantha embroidery which is extremely rich in design and can de donned with a jeans pant. The Pathani kurta which is traced back to Afghanistan is mostly sported by most of the community. Lastly, the Multani kurta was designed in the Multan area of Pakistan.
Occasional Outfit: Even though the kurta pajama were initially used as a daily or household clothing it is now mostly restricted to special occasions such as Pujas and weddings.
So, go ahead and flaunt this ethnic and traditional wear as much as possible.