Tamil Nadu is a state in southern India with a rich cultural heritage. Traditional dress in Tamil Nadu is an essential aspect of its customs and culture. It reflects the values, beliefs, and customs of the people and has been pass down from generation to generation. In this article, we will explore the significance of Tamil Nadu’s traditional dress, the types of traditional dress, the significance of maroon color, traditional dress names, mundus meaning in Tamil, how to wear traditional dress, traditional jewelry, and modernization of traditional dress.
Significance of Traditional Dress in Tamil Nadu
Traditional dress in Tamil Nadu has a significant cultural and social significance. It is an integral part of the state’s identity and reflects the values, beliefs, and customs of the people. Traditional dress is worn during festivals, weddings, and other auspicious occasions. As it is believe to bring good luck and prosperity.
Traditional dress in Tamil Nadu is also a symbol of respect for the culture and tradition of the state. It is a way of preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Tamil Nadu. The traditional dress also helps in distinguishing one community from the other, making it easier for people to identify the community to which one belongs.
Types of Traditional Dress in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu has a wide variety of traditional dress for women, including sarees, mundus, and pavadais, and more. Each dress has its unique features and cultural significance.
Sarees
Sarees are the most popular traditional dress for women in Tamil Nadu. A saree is a long piece of cloth, usually six yards long, that is drap around the waist and over the shoulder. Tamil Nadu has several types of sarees, including Kanjeevaram, Madurai Cotton, Coimbatore Cotton, and Salem Silk.
The Kanjeevaram saree is a popular choice for weddings and other auspicious occasions. It is made of silk and has intricate designs and patterns. The Madurai Cotton saree is light and comfortable, making it ideal for everyday wear. The Coimbatore Cotton saree is known for its simplicity and elegance, and the Salem Silk saree is famous for its softness and durability.
Mundus
Mundus are another popular traditional dress for women in Tamil Nadu. The Mundus are a type of skirt that is wrapped around the waist and tied with a knot. It is usually paired with a blouse or a shawl and is worn during festivals and other auspicious occasions.
Mundus are available in different colors and designs, and each design has its unique cultural significance. Mundus are also known as ‘Lungi’ in other parts of the country.
Pavadais
Pavadais are a type of traditional dress worn by young girl in Tamil Nadu. It is a long skirt that is pair with a blouse or a shawl. Pavadais are usually made of cotton, and the design and pattern are simple and elegant.
Pavadais are worn during festivals and other auspicious occasions and are a symbol of innocence and purity.
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Traditional Dresses for Women
Sari finds immense significance in the traditional clothing for women in Tamil Nadu. The popular Tamil poetry Cilappatikaram portrays females in a sari. Sari is a dress which women wear in offices, temples, parties and marriages. South Indian saris are famous across India for their intricate zari work. Kancheepuram sari is especially well know for its exquisite style. The colour, texture and style of a Kancheepuram sari are quite different from North Indian saris. The length of sari usually ranges from five to six yards.
Pavada is the dress adorn by Brahmin girls before getting married. This half sari dress is the combination of a full-length skirt with a short blouse and a shawl known as Davani. It is the symbol of young age and beauty of the Tamil girls.
These days, Salwar Kameez has also become popular among women of Tamil Nadu. Salwar is a kind of loose trouser combin with a long top, known as a kurti or kameez.
Traditional Dresses for Men
The traditional dress of Tamil men is as elegant as the dress of women. Lungi is the most common bottom-wear for men in Tamil Nadu. It is wrapp around the waist and thighs. Lungi comes in different colours. It is the traditional dress worn by men in marriag too. This rectangular shape cloth is generally made with cotton. It is mostly worn with a shirt or Angavastra. Angavastram is another significant part of Tamil dressing. It is a piece of cloth wrapp around the shoulders. In early days Angavastram was us as upper clothing but now it is us above the shirt.
Traditional Accessories
The traditional dressing of men and women in Tamil Nadu is incomplete without gold jewellery like necklaces, chains, payals, bangles, maang-tika and earrings. Tamilians love gold and are know to posses great amount of gold jewellery. Apart from jewellery, women in Tamil Nadu love to decorate their hair with flower garlands, known as Gajras.
To complete the look, men apply Vibhuti along with sandal paste on their forehe while Kum-Kum is appli by women on their hands, feet and forehead.
Staple Jewellery
As one of the richest regions of India, gold is massive in Tamil Nadu. Gold plays a vital role in Tamil Nadu culture dress. Since the Sangama dynasty, people of this region have been strict devotees of gold jewellery, giving birth to various forms of it. The deities have been worshipp and ornamented with gold. Gold holds symbolic significance and is a sacred element in the culture of south India.
A fascinating and intricate type of bijoux seemingly famous here is the “temple jewellery”. These pieces are characteris by designs inspir by monumental temples, deities and divine figures and both heavy as well as extraordinary in craftsmanship.
The most prominent piece is the “maangamalai “– a necklace with mango motifs all along the chain and a pendant hanging in the centre with a traditional peacock encrusted. Another signature piece belongs on the head; a “jadanagam” is a long trail like an ornament clipp to a neatly done braid. It is an integral accessory worn by dancer and bride. Similarly, several other pieces are true to this region’s originality and exhibit exquisite craftsmanship.
