The Sindhi suthan, also called chareno, is similar to the Punjabi suthan of the Punjab region, is heavily pleated, voluminous on the thighs, slightly narrowed on the knees, gathered in at the instep and pleated to the ankles. Sindhi Suthan and Sindhi cholo Modern Suthan (chareno) īy the 1930s, the suthan, similar to the shalwar became the traditional lower garment worn by women in Sindh. In parts of Sindh, the skirt is worn without the suthan. Accordingly, the suthan for women is a relatively late adoption. The original outfit does not require a woman to wear a suthan underneath the lengha, and up until the 1840s, the skirt was commonly worn on its own. Unmarried girls wear the opening to the back and married women, to the front. The neck line of the gaji is cut high, and round on one side, with a slit opening extending the other. The gaji is composed of small, square panels, embroidered on silk and sequins. Īnother upper garment is the gaji (pullover shirt) which is worn in the mountain areas of Sindh. Women in the Thakparkar district wear a ghagra, a heavier version of the lehnga, with either a loose or fitted choli, or a kancera, a fully embroidered, backless blouse, held on by small cap sleeves and strings. Female dress Lengha choli īefore the advent of the suthan and Sindhi cholo, the traditional dress was lengha (jablo) choli which is still worn by women in various parts of Sindh. However, the suthan was not universally adopted by members of all religions to begin with, but in 1872 it was noted that the use had spread to a wider audience. Ī suthan is traditionally tight fitting below the knees or around the ankles whereas any style of shalwar is loosely gathered at the ankles and does not tighten towards the lower parts of the legs.Īlthough it was not customary for women to wear the suthan during the early 19th century, men were seen wearing the traditional pantaloon style Sindhi shalwar/suthan during this period. However, the Sindhi shalwar, as the earlier version worn in Mansura, is not as wide and loose as the Balcohi shalwar, which is very wide and loose.
that the use of the shalwar in Sindh was introduced on a wide level. and picking up pace during the 18th century C.E. It is not until the migration of people from Balochistan beginning during the 15th century C.E. Accordingly, the traditional Lungi, ghagra choli and other costumes continued in use. In time too, Arab rule which introduced the Iraqi dress, ended in the 11th century. The Sindhi shalwar however, was not universally adopted in the region, where it was limited to Mansura. Both garments have the same origins in the pantaloons of Iraq, which are still worn by the Kurds. Both garments are loose down to the ankles, where they are gathered. The traditional Sindhi shalwar is similar to the Gujarati kafni, very wide, but the Sindhi shalwar is plaited at the waist. The Sindhi shalwar, also called kancha, can be described as wide pantaloons which do not begin to gather at the knees as does the modern Sindhi suthan, and are wide at the ankles. The traditional Sindhi drawers are the shalwar style adopted from Iraq and neighbouring countries. Sindhi-Balochi man in Sindhi traditional pantaloon style shalwar. Further, alongside these dresses, Sindhis also wore other traditional attire. and was not universally adopted throughout the region. However, the use of such Iraqi clothes in Sindh was limited to Mansura, the Arab capital city, established 712 C.E. If any drawers were used, they were of the Iraqi style, such as the pantaloons which were also adopted in neighbouring Multan and also in the coastal areas of Gujarat. The dresses included short tunics and Iraqi style long robes. The traditional clothes of Sindh can still be seen on men and women today.ĭuring the medieval period and prior to the Mughal rule, the costumes worn by the people of Sindh resembled the dresses worn in Iraq and adjoining countries. The original dress of the Sindhi male was dhoti, jamo (top) and achi pagirhi (White pagri). Over time, older ladies started to wear the Salwar Kurta with Slippers (sapato). Elderly ladies used to wear a white sheet (chaadar) to cover her body with only a peep hole (akhiri) deftly contrived. Middle aged and young ladies wore churidar pyjama (sorhi suthan). Also they wore a long skirt (jablo) on top and a thick poplin blouse ( koti) and a white rawa (a muslin head scarf). In the past, the younger women wore velvet or amber pyjama (suthan) both at home and outside. Thereafter, up to the 1930s women began to wear the suthan and Sindhi cholo which was the typical dress for all women of Sindh.
Up until the 1840s, women wore the lehenga and choli, and men the lungi or the traditional Sindhi shalwar/suthan. Sindhi lehenga, choli and Sindhi traditional pantaloon shalwar (1845).