Dress of Bangladesh: Explore Stylish Attire

Dress is one of the main features of any culture. People of different races came to Bangladesh at different times. They got settled and influenced the Bengalis. Foreign influence is marked in the diversified dresses of the people of this country. People wear dresses according to their social status and abilities. As the demand for different dresses increased, people changed their trends toward dresses. Substantial changes occurred in clothing style after the establishment of Muslim rule in Bengal. Major changes took place in the dresses of males and females towards the end of the 19^th century. Foreign cultures are bringing about continuous changes in people’s dresses in this age of information technology. But generally, Bengali women wear traditional dresses like Sari and Salwar-Kamiz, while men wear Lunghi, vests, trousers, shirts, T-shirts, panjabi, and pajamas.

Women’s Dress:

The traditional dress of Bengali women is the sari. Women wear blouses of various designs with saris. Previously, rural women used to wear saris without a blouse and petticoat. But things have changed now. The urban women wear different types of sari, such as tan, Jamdani, Georgette, Silk, etc. Muslim widows usually wear ordinary dresses, while Hindu widows wear white dresses according to religious dictates. Many Muslim women wear Burqa, Hijab, etc. At present, there is an increasing tendency to wear a salwar kameez instead of a sari among urban women.

Men’s Dress:

Men’s dresses in Bangladesh have more variety. The middle-class Muslims in villages wear lungis with vests or shirts. Some wear pyjamas with loose shirts. Middle-class Hindus wear a dhoti along with a shirt, or panjabi. Sometimes, they also wear a lungi and pyjamas. The urban people wear lungis, or pyjamas, vests, fatuas, and panjabi at home. Western-style shirts, pants, suits, and ties are often used in offices and business establishments. The orthodox Muslims wear pyjamas, loose alkhallas, and caps. Hindu Brahmin pundits and priests wear Dhoti and an unstitched piece of cloth called Uttariya. Besides, the peasants and labourers of all religious communities generally wear a lungi, vest, and short panjabi.

Formal Dress:

The Bengalis wear different types of dresses on formal occasions. For example, women wear Saris with red borders and men wear Panjabis or Fatua with trousers on the occasion of Pahela Baishakh. Again, both boys and girls wear yellow dresses on the 1^st Falgun, the first day of spring. Besides, the bride and groom wear special dresses on the day of marriage. the bride wears Sari or Ghagra while the bridegroom wears Sherwani, Pajama-Panjabi or suit during Muslim marriages. During marriage ceremonies of Hindu families, brides wear Sari or Ghagra while the bridegroom wears Dhoti and Panjabi or modern shirts, trousers, and suits. School- and college-going boys and girls have their own uniforms as selected by institutions.

Modern Dresses:

Changes are taking place rapidly in the dress of the urban population due to the impact of globalization. The urban girls now prefer short Kamiz, Jeans, fatuas, skirts, etc. Boys prefer Jeans, short shirts, T-shirts, Trousers, etc. Many boutique shops have cropped up in urban areas in recent times. Dresses sold by these shops have become popular with people of all ages. In the name of modern dresses, young ladies and girls are following western cultures.

Children’s Dress:

Children’s dresses in both villages and towns are almost similar. Little boys wear shorts, shirts, vests, pyjamas, Panjabi, etc. On the other hand, girls wear frocks, skirts, and pantaloons with half-pants. There is diversity in the choice of dresses for kids in the markets.

Indigenous Dresses:

There are different indigenous people in Bangladesh. They have different cultures. So, they have different dresses in accordance with their tradition, culture, and taste. The names of their dresses also vary. But generally, indigenous girls wear a dress like Lungi on the lower part and a blouse on the upper part of the body. They put on the dress, and their back and frontal parts are almost visible. Some indigenous girls wear a scarf-like cloth around their bodies. The dress of the Marma girls is known as the Thames, for Tripura girls it is Rinnai-risa, the Garos call it Gena, while the Chakma girls term them Pinan and Khadi. The indigenous men wear Lungi, Dhoti, and shirts without collars. The MRO males wear a dress called Dang, which resembles underwear. Indigenous women use cloth to bind their babies to their bodies. But those indigenous people who work or study in towns wear modern dresses.

Ornaments:

The Bengali girls put on different types of ornaments to beautify themselves. They wear gold, silver imitations, and imported ornaments available in the local markets. They usually put on earrings, bangles, and bracelets on the wrist; nose-pins, chains, and necklaces on the neck; and anklets and bells on the feet. Gorgeous ornaments are made by inserting precious stones into gold, silver, and other metals. Ornaments made from burnt clay are also quite popular among them.