Hindu wear

When it is worn

Hindu women wear sarees for daily life, for worship, for festivals and for the rites of passage from the naming ceremony to the wedding and the funeral. A saree is often the dress of a married woman, though many unmarried women and girls wear one for festivals. Many families keep a silk saree for the temple and the home altar. Wear varies greatly: some women wear a saree every day, others only for ceremonies, and many mix it with other clothes. What follows is a general account, and individual families follow their own customs.

What is chosen: colours and cloth

Red, yellow, saffron, orange and green are widely regarded as auspicious, and are worn at weddings, pujas and festivals. Red is the colour of the bride in many regions and is associated with the goddess. Yellow or turmeric is worn for some pujas, and many women choose silk for important rites because it is regarded as clean for worship. White and pale colours are worn at funerals and in mourning in many communities. Black is avoided at auspicious events in some families, although this is changing. Cotton is the cloth of everyday life and silk the cloth of ceremony.

By region

In the south, the Kanchipuram silk and the nine yard madisar are worn for rites by some Tamil families, and the kasavu is worn in Kerala. In Maharashtra, the Paithani and the Nauvari are worn for weddings and Gauri pujan. In Gujarat, the Gharchola, Panetar and Patola are worn by brides in some communities. In Bengal, the red-bordered white saree, the Benarasi and the tant are worn for pujas and weddings. In the north, Banarasi brocade and bandhani are common. Each region has a different drape, from the Nivi to the kachche and the Seedha pallu.

Customs and etiquette

Visitors to a Hindu temple should dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and remove shoes before entering. A saree is a suitable dress for a temple visit, though many temples accept other modest clothes, and some have rules about what women may wear. At a Hindu wedding, guests often wear colour and are welcome in silk, but white and black are avoided in many families. At a funeral, plain white or muted colours are usual. If you are unsure, ask the family or the temple, since practice differs by community.

Worth knowing

• Kanchipuram silk: A temple-town silk worn for weddings and festivals.
• Paithani: A Maharashtra silk worn for weddings and festivals.
• Nauvari: The nine yard saree of Maharashtra.
• Madisar: The nine yard saree worn by some Tamil Brahmin women.
• Benarasi lal: The red Banarasi brocade of the bride.
• Kasavu: The cream and gold saree of Kerala.

Good to know

• Keep a clean silk saree for worship and air it after each use.
• Fold silk in muslin and avoid oil and incense stains.
• Ask about local custom before visiting a temple.

Sources and further reading

• Sari, Wikipedia
• Indian wedding clothes, Wikipedia