Culture in Gujarat – The Perfect Example for Indian Diversity and Richness

The Indian State, Gujarat is well known for its cultural diversity. The entire state shines with vibrant colors of traditions and rich cultural heritage. Right from Harappa civilization, this place was one among the platform for various religions including Buddhism, Jainism, Islam and Hinduism.  The culture in Gujarat is a perfect blend of values, language, traditions, customs, beliefs, arts, institutions, technology and language. The state of Gujarat is enculturated with people sharing common experience leading to the knowledge as well as appreciation of lifestyles and cultural traditions. Gujarat people also share their cultural patterns and traits with people of other regions and spread their values beyond boundaries. The state is correctly recognized as ‘Heart of India’ as one can sense multiculturalism throughout the state. The cultural background that they share with other people makes them feel more comfortable and confident to stand as an example in the global scenario.

 A blend of Cultural Diversity and Rich Heritage – Gujarat, The Flourishing State

The place got special significance in the Indian history as it is the birthplace of Father of India, Mahatma Gandhi. The cultural scenario at Gujarat is marked by its lifestyles, cuisines, music, folk dances, arts, crafts, fairs and festivals. The beliefs and customs of Gurjars are perfectly blended with moral characteristics and values. The culture and tradition of Gujarat is well known by their dressing trend too. Their dress reflects the changes happened in the state since decades. Their dress brightens the entire atmosphere with its attractive glossy shades. Along with their enriched outfit, Gujarati women dress up with fancy and esthetic jewelry and other fashionable accessories.

The Traditional Costumes of Gujarat

Clothing in Gujarat attracts people from all over the world. Gujarati males wear Kediyu and Chorno whereas women wear Choli and Chaniyo. Both of them prefer to wear rich ornaments and jewelry. Their outfits generally contain astragals, bead work; thread work, small patches etc... Gujarati embroiders display amazing creativity and fineness in their work. The enthusiastic Gujaratis dress up their best during festival seasons especially Navratri.  They perform folk dance during this nine days festival with men wearing tight and small long sleeve coat called Keviya. The keviya is embroided beautifully at the shoulders and other borders. Keviya is paired with Churidhar Pajama along with colorful turban. Women prefer to wear ghagra choli or lehenga choli during this season. It includes backless blouses and ankle length colorful skirts. They give final touch to their dress with dupatta or odhni which is heavily designed. They add extraordinary energy to their festival with bright and colorful dress and delicious varieties of sweets.

Traditional Costumes of Gujarat – Use of Enticing and Vibrant colors in their Attires

The very first thing that comes to my mind when somebody talks about the costumes and dressing style of Gujarat is their culture and tradition. Actually, what I feel about the dressing style of Gujarati people is that it is very cultural and it reflects various changes that the state has undergone. The outfits they wear are really of very bright colors which brighten up the surroundings and the atmosphere. The fancy and esthetic jewelry worn by the women reminds me of traditional culture of India. Costumes of Gujarat mainly include Kediyu and Chorno for males and the women wears Choli and Chaniyo. The traditional dress of Gujarat is observed during the Navratri festival.

What attracts me the most about the costumes of Gujarat is their variant bright and glossy colors worn with fashionable jewelry. Chorno is a cotton dress which the men usually wear in the rural parts of the state. In order to cover the upper body part, they wear a short angrakhu or Kediyu. We have often seen men otherwise wearing a turban or a gear but in Gujarat, men wear a thickly folded phento tied on their head.

costumes of Gujarat

Women according to me, looks brighter than the men due to their bright and colorful choli and long flary skirt. It looks very attractive as the glass pieces are used to design the choli. I have also been to Gujarat once and worn their costumes and honestly speaking, it was an amazing experience. Women also wear a chunri that is draped around their body’s upper part which looks very beautiful because of the heavy work on it. You would be surprised to know that in spite of heavy work on the chunri, it is very light weight.

I went to Gujarat during the Navratri season of Gujarat. This festival is the most important festival celebrated with huge pomp and show by the Gujarati people. Males wear Keviya which is a small and colorful coat with tight sleeves and frilled pleats elegantly embroidered along with churidar pajama and a turban. But it is sad to know that the dresses are very costly so to avoid expenses, so I preferred to wear them for a few days on rent.

Women look very beautiful in Lehenga choli and Ghagra choli which they wear while dancing. Stunning bare-backed embroidered blouses are worn by them with Ghagras and lehangas below it. Odhni or duppatta is draped and worn by them on top. Although generally also they wear the same type of costumes but during festivals they wear heavy designed costumes.