Free Information resource for Ghagra

The people of India have colorful & different attires. The silk saris, brightly mirrored cholis, colorful lehangas and the traditional salwar- kameez have fascinated many travelers, over time.

The best time to see a colorful display of salwar kameezs, saris, bridal wear and ghagra cholis is during Indian weddings.

The most preferred Indian attire worn in Indian weddings is the Ghagra choli also known as Lehenga choli and chaniya choli

A ghagra is a pleated skirt and is worn with a long or short, stitched and fitted blouse (the choli). The ghagra is secured at the waist and leaves the back and midriff bare. Ghagra choli is also worn with a dupatta, a 2.5 meters of light transparent material usually georgette. The dupatta is worn like a scarf or veil.

In modern times ghagra choli or lehenga choli are exotic Indian clothing with embroidery using stones, kundan, zari, crystals, kori, resham, mirrors, sequins and some times real gold threads. Some designers use intricate brocade, tanchoi and heavy satins even with real gold and silver embroidery, studded with precious stones. Like the ghagra choli the dupatta also has embroidery.

The ghagra or lehenga or sharara as it is sometimes called comes in the following fittings:

A-cut

Straight cut

Umbrella cut

Fish cut or Mermaid cut

In India it is very to have ghagra choli, lehenga choli, shararas, bridal lehenga, party wear lehenga choli to be custom made.

Ghagra choli should be worn with accessory jewelry like Necklace, neck chokers, earrings, tikka, bangles. This jewelry will compliment the lehenga or ghagra choli.

Ghagra choli in UK, Ghagra choli in USA are very popular among the Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis.

Ghagra choli or Lehenga choli are available in many online stores.   TOP

Many of the online stores are based in India and Indian ethnic wear products such as Salwar kameez, Saris, Men’s kurtas, Ghagra choli, Chaniya choli, Lehenga choli, Indo-western salwars, party wear salwars, Bridal lehengas, party wear Lehenga, Shararas are shipped to UK, USA, Europe and worldwide.

Many Indian designers have acclaimed International fame with their designer ghagra cholis.

Kinds of Ghagra choli

• Bridal Ghagra choli
• Party Wear Ghagra choli
• Traditional Ghagra choli

Bridal Ghagra choli

Ghagra choli or Lehenga choli is one of the ancient clothing in which Indian sub - continent holds supremacy. The bride’s clothes are usually typical of the area. In different parts of India, brides wear different kinds of clothes ornaments and adornments.


A wedding is an auspicious occasion when the attire demands keen attention. During a modern wedding, the brides have a wide variety of bridal dresses to pick and choose from. Ghagra Choli is the most preferred one. The rich colors used for bridal ghagra choli are symbolic of festivity / fertility. Metallic yarn is traditionally used on these garments. During the actual wedding ceremony, conducted in front of the fire, the motifs and the colors of the ensemble glow. In Northern India the most preferred bridal wear is the ghagra choli (designer bridal wear).

In Maharashtra brides wear a Paithani sari, terrific Lehnga and shawl with its gold brocade border woven intricately with birds, flowers and geometrical patterns. Other woven saris from this region, such as Chanderis, Indoris, Maheshwaris also form part of the trousseau with yellows, orange and greens being the dominant colors.

The ensemble of the Muslim bride from Hydria is the zari-encrusted blouse with a skirt. The veil is edged with gold tassels and embroidered all over. Tissues and brocades are used in abundance.

The Rajasthanis use chunri to cover the bridal bed on which the grooms sit for the tilak ceremony after the marriage and is later used as a veil by the bride.

Wearing of bridal ghagra choli is a fashion with lasting values and rich craftsmanship.

It is so much in fashion that in addition to wedding, it is worn even at beauty pageant contests at national as well as international level and received "best costume award". Many of the top designers, like Ritu Kumar, are also engaged in bridal lehenga choli designing whose creations were worn by Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Priyanka Chopra and many others and receive much adornments. Indian wedding collections at different sources of Indian clothing includes bridal lehengas, wedding lehengas and wedding sarees, fashionable lehenga, fine lehenga.

Party Wear Ghagra choli

Ghagra or Lehenga choli is the most preferred party wear of young people. Most of the important guests in weddings will be in ghagra choli.
The ghagra choli is worn to mark important occasions and festivals.
The Indian ghagra choli can be worn at main occasions like mehendi, dandiya / sangeet, the wedding ceremony and the reception. Outfits for women such as the 'Indian Ghagra or Lehenga - choli' brings out the essence of feminism.
Embroidered Indian ghagra choli is quite famous round the globe. It is one of the oldest form of Indian clothing.

The young generation has evolved the traditional choli to strap less blouse, spaghetti top and tube top.

Party wear Lehenga choli

The traditional dress for women in Rajasthan and Gujarat is the lehenga choli or ghagra choli but can be seen all over the country. These cholis are brightly embroidered, waist - length bare - backed blouses. Indian ghagra cholis, lehengas are gathered ankle - length skirts secured around the waist. The attire is completed by a veil - cloth called odhni or dupatta draped across the neck or over the head. The Indian lehenga choli is extremely colorful, adding verve and color to the surrounding landscapes. Tribal women in theses area bedeck themselves from head to toe with chunky silver jewellery.

Many young women today wear modern variations of the traditional ghaghra choli for special occasions. They may now have as many as four pieces: the skirt, the choli, a long scarf draped over the shoulders or head, and a long sleeveless "jacket" framing the outfit. Sometimes the choli is decoratively laced in the front or back.


The Indian lehenga - choli - ghagra choli is usually worn with the ‘dupatta’. This is a rectangle cloth made of very thin cotton or synthetic material used to cover the head and the chest. In India lehenga choli is also known as lehenga chunni or lehenga chunri, chunari, chunaris, ghagra choli.

The Indian lehenga Cholis with their glittering mirror work is the most attractive. This comprises of long pleated skirts, known as Lehenga, and is worn with twin blouses. The blouses have elaborate mirror work and patch work on them and are very colorful. It is designed to leave the back and midriff bare. This type of dresses is mainly by women in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat.

Lehenga choli had developed since the times of tribals and nomads of ancient times.

Though Indian wedding dress include saris, ghagra choli, but the most famous traditional dresses for India bridal is lehnga choli, which are heavily embroidered with thread. The lehnga with chunri or veil in a bright red and multicolored tie and dye bandhini design is almost mandatory.

Among the people of Uttar Pradesh lehenga is used for the gath bandhan (tying the knot) ceremony during the marriage rituals. The brides of Bihar, however, are simply dressed in a new unstitched saffron or turmeric yellow sari but among the Zamindars the sari undergoes a transformation.

During a special ceremony specialists of bandhini are invited to make the chunri.

Satin, net, georgette, silk made pretty lehengas are essentially party wear. Lehengas are the latest fashion in Bollywood dress.
Lehnga choli is one of the traditional as well as modern dress of the Indians. It is widely in custom around the globe also. Choli lehanga is one of the oldest dress forms. Its manufacturing is done with great skill. Many types of fabrics are used in choli lehanga preparation. Some of the commonly used fabrics are crepe, georgette, net, satin, silk.


Ghagra choli or Lehenga choli are made in the following fabrics

CREPE FABRIC  TOP
Crepe, a thin fabric widely used in Indian choli, woven originally in silk but now available in all major fibers. There are two kinds of crepe. The hard - finished, typically dyed black and used for mourning (which tends to retain the old spelling crape), is made of hand - twisted silk yarn and finished by a rather complex trade process after weaving; the soft crepe include the Canton, or Oriental, weaves in plain or damask weaves. Their crisped or wavy appearance results from the peculiar arrangement of the weft, which is formed of yarn from two different bobbins twisted together in opposite directions or uses alternately a right - twisted and a left - twisted thread. Crepe fabric is used in almost all garments like Indian ghagra choli, bridal leenghas, sarees, fashion lehenga and salwar kameez.

GEORGETTE FABRIC  TOP
Georgette is a thin woven silk fabric often of crepe yarn and construction. Georgette choli lehangas are famous in Bollywood. It is - a sheer silk or rayon crepe of dull texture. A sheer lightweight fabric, often made of silk or from such manufactured fibers as polyester, with a crepe surface. End - uses include dresses and blouses.

NET FABRIC  TOP
Net fabric is an open fabric, which is created by connecting the intersections in a woven, knitted, or crocheted construction to form a mesh - like appearance that won't ravel. End - uses include veils, curtains, and fish nets this fabric is widely used in fancy lehenga.

SATIN FABRIC  TOP
Satin is a traditional fabric utilizing a satin weave construction to achieve a lustrous fabric surface. Satin is a traditional fabric for evening and wedding garments. Typical examples of satin weave fabrics include: slipper satin, crepe - back satin, faille satin, bridal satin, moleskin, and antique satin.

SILK FABRIC  TOP
Silk is a luxurious and sensuous fabric, one associated with wealth and success. During the Roman Empire, silk was sold for its weight in gold.

Today, silk is yet another word for elegance, and silk garments are prized for their versatility, wear ability and comfort. Silk is the strongest natural fiber. Silk absorbs moisture, which makes it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Because of its high absorbency, it is easily dyed in many deep colors. Silk retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, and shimmers with a luster all its own. It is the most common traditional women clothing being exported by women clothing exporters in India.

A lehenga with choli and dupatta is also known as lehenga set.  TOP

There are many lehenga sets, which are in fashion trend. The Indian fashion industry has its roots related to Bollywood. Bollywood lehengas always set the trend of fashion in India. The Bollywood lehenga choli fashion is not hide. Actresses wear fashion lehngas latest fashion lehengas, which are designed by top famous designers. The chaniya choli fashion, wedding lehenga fashion also came from Bollywood.
Embroidered lehenga is the traditional wear of Indian women since ancient time. Popular both among wanderers, tribals as well as royal people of olden days, embroidered lehengas come in many different styles. Traditionally the garb of tribal and rural women, the embroidered lehenga - choli made up of a comfortable fabric, can be worn on festivals or other celebrations. Feminine and graceful, the long skirt is decorated with embroidery and mirror work. The short, fitted choli is also in festive colors and has gorgeous embroidery.

Wearing of custom lehengas at occasions is the latest fashion / trend. Traditional lehenga choli is worn during wedding, festivals like Navratri, Eid, Dussehra.
Silk lehengas owns a special place in medieval as well as modern times. This is a special dress for all occasions, especially party wear. Bridal silk lehengas cholis are a new trend in wedding ceremonies. Silk lehengas are a hot in wedding lehenga fashion. They are manufactured in New Delhi, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Zardosi lehenga is the traditional wear of Indian women since Mughal time. Popular among royal people of olden days, Zardosi lehengas come in many different styles. The Zardosi lehenga - choli made up of a comfortable fabric, can be worn on festivals or other celebrations. Zardosi lehengas are glamorous and elaborate. Rich fabrics such as silk, organza, jamewars and brocades have been used lavishly in this collection of Zardosi lehengas.

Indian dressing styles are marked by many variations, both religious and regional with a wide choice of textures and styles. The traditional Indian dress are Sari, ghagara choli, and lenghas. Salwar Kameez is the second most popular dress and is gaining in popularity fast with the younger generation.

The lehengas and gaghra cholis owe their history to ancient people of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.  TOP

There are different dresses for different occasions. Lehenga choli is most popular Indian wedding dress, which is also worn at KARWA CHAUTH. Bridal lehenga, wedding lehnga cholis are gifted to bride by the maternal uncle in Indian weddings. The Indian designers use heavy zardosi embroidery in bridal lehenga to gives beautiful look. Choli stands for short, tight fitted blouse, same as the one worn under sari. Lehenga or Ghaghra, the term stands for almost similar piece of garment, which is a skirt with great deal of flare. The simple one have only one vertical seam which turn the cloth or ghaghra-pata into a tubular form, fastened with a draw string passing through a narrow slot at the waist. Flared ghagras are made of several panels of triangular gored pieces stitched together. Accompanied by duppata completes the ensemble, to cover the upper part of the body. Well known among the Rajasthani, but this outfit has gained popularity and nowadays worn with greater relish and styles all over.
Some of the most common occasions to wear this outfit are:

DIWALI  TOP
The festival of lights enlightens our lives each year with memories of the past and illuminates our future with hope and joy. With the arrival of Diwali, special moments flood the mind. Ladies wear simple lehenga choli at this occasion.

KARWA CHAUTH  TOP
'Karwa Chauth' is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women seeking the longevity, well being and prosperity of their husbands. It is popular amongst married women in the northern and western parts of India, especially, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. This festival comes 9 days before Diwali on 'kartik ki chauth', i.e., on the fourth day of the new moon immediately after Dusshera, in the month of 'Karthik' In the evening, women dress up in special clothes, usually a red or pink sari or 'lehenga-choli' with gold woven 'zari' patterns. New brides often wear their bridal costume or good-looking lehenga. All deck up in jewelry and wear 'mehendi' or henna patterns especially on the hands. Decorative 'bindis' on the forehead are a must for all women taking part in this celebration.

During Navratri and Dandiya playing embroidered lehengas are in use. Eid is one of the famous festivals when Muslim women wear ghagra choli. The most common occasion is wedding ceremony. Bride and other ladies are often seen in lehenga cholis and in fashion lehenga.   TOP

 

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