A sacred thread worn over the left shoulder and crosswise over the torso, which symbolises a Hindu rite of initiation into a stage of learning. This rite is limited to males of the Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaishya varnas (social classes) of Hindu society and the thread itself is considered a marker of caste. Within Indian iconography, it is also appears in religious sculptures and paintings.
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A name given to pashmina and shahtoosh wool shawls, derived from the belief that the shawls are so fine that…
A conical, multi-tiered headdress or crown found in Indian iconographic traditions, it is commonly depicted on female deities. The term…
Also known as amlikar, it is a needle-embroidered Kashmiri shawl dating to the nineteenth century. While it is likely to…
A traditional bridal odhani (veil) worn by women from the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh on their wedding day. Made…
Meaning “divine cloth” in Sanskrit, it is an upper body garment. In Jainism, it is believed that the deity Indra…
A sari style characterised by contrasting colours or patterns in its two half-lengths. The length of one segment of the…
A sari with a plain, broad border without patterns or embroidery and woven in colours such as vermillion.
A type of sari made in Ilkal in Karnataka, India, woven in dyed silk and decorated with embroidery. Traditionally considered…