Antariya
An ancient lower body garment from India made of a long cotton or silk strip
The antariya is a lower body garment from ancient India that takes the form of a long strip of fabric. This garment, usually of fine cotton or silk, is combined with the uttariya and is described in old texts as part of women's attire that later developed into the sari.
- Mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
- Shown on Hindu deities in sculptures across the Indian subcontinent.
- Linked to the development of the sari in 6th century BC Buddhist texts.
- Made of fine cotton or silk and used with the uttariya.
What is Antariya?
The antariya acts as a lower body garment in ancient Indian dress. It is made as a long strip of fine cotton or silk in white or other colours. When worn, this strip is arranged around the lower body to provide loose coverage over the legs and to create pleats that hang down the front. It is always used together with the uttariya for the upper body. The garment features in representations of deities and is recorded in early literature.
Where does Antariya come from?
The antariya is an ancient garment from India that appears in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Sculptures in the Indian subcontinent, especially those in Hindu temples and other iconography, show Hindu deities wearing the antariya with the uttariya. According to Buddhist Pali literature of the sixth century BC, the sari developed as an evolved form of the antariya. This garment formed one part of a three-piece outfit for women in the ancient period.
Antariya, drawn
How Antariya is worn
The antariya is worn as a lower garment in combination with the uttariya. The long strip of fabric is secured around the lower body to result in loose coverage of the legs and long pleats that flow at the front. This style was common in the ancient period for both daily and special uses.
When Antariya is worn
The antariya was used in ancient times as part of attire for women and is shown on Hindu deities in temple sculptures. References in the epics and Buddhist texts indicate its role in early clothing practices of both Hindu and Buddhist communities.
What Antariya means
The antariya holds cultural significance as an early form of Indian wrapped garment. It connects to Hindu and Buddhist traditions through its mentions in sacred texts and its presence in religious sculptures from the Indian subcontinent.
Questions people ask about Antariya
Where does the antariya come from and how is it made?
The antariya comes from ancient India. It is made from fine cotton or silk in the form of a long strip of fabric.
Which texts mention the antariya?
The garment is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as well as in Buddhist Pali literature from the sixth century BC.
How was the antariya worn in ancient times?
It was worn as a lower body garment secured around the lower body to provide loose coverage of the legs and to form pleats at the front and combined with the uttariya.
Who is depicted wearing the antariya?
Hindu deities are shown wearing the antariya with the uttariya in sculptures from Hindu temples and other iconography in the Indian subcontinent.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Antariya", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryPallu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions, weaves and prices differ from one weaver, town or shop to the next, and it is not buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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