Uttariya
Ancient Indian upper garment of loose cloth draped over shoulders and arms
An uttariya is a loose upper body garment from ancient India made of a single cloth that drapes from the neck around the arms. It was worn in the Vedic period and continues in rituals and daily use across the Indian subcontinent.
- Worn during the Vedic period between 1500 and 500 BCE
- Made of fine cotton or silk or fine hide
- Used to dress deities in Hindu temples
- Worn by Pandavas in white according to the Mahabharata
- Still worn over kurta or as a dupatta in daily life
What is Uttariya?
This garment is a length of cloth for covering the upper part of the body. It starts behind the neck and goes around the arms. It can also cover the shoulders and chest area. Both men and women wore it in early times. It feels light and is easy to remove when the weather turns warm. The material is usually fine cotton or silk.
Where does Uttariya come from?
The garment dates to the Vedic period in India. It appears in old texts along with a lower wrap. People removed it in summer months. Later writings from Buddhist times also refer to it. Stone carvings show its use from long ago though few examples of the cloth itself have lasted.
How is Uttariya made?
The uttariya is made from fine cotton or silk. It can also be made from fine hide. These materials allow it to be used as a light covering for the upper body. The records do not describe any specific techniques for creating the cloth or adding patterns to it.
Uttariya, drawn
How Uttariya is worn
The cloth is placed over the left shoulder in a style known as upavita. It covers the upper body and can be used to cover the chest. In modern times it goes over a kurta or similar top. It also works as a scarf or head covering.
When Uttariya is worn
It is used in Hindu temple rituals to dress the upper part of a deity statue. Buddhist followers wear it in saffron colour along with other clothes. People still use it every day in the Indian subcontinent over traditional outfits.
Styles of Uttariya
Women sometimes wore two of these cloths. A larger version called pravara was for cold weather. The garment played a role in the development of the sari by combining with other pieces.
What Uttariya means
The uttariya forms part of the early clothing traditions in India. It shows how upper and lower garments were used together. Its use continues in religious practices and everyday clothing across the region.
Questions people ask about Uttariya
Where does the uttariya come from?
It comes from ancient India during the Vedic period. It is a loose upper garment made of fine cotton or silk.
How is the uttariya made?
It is made from fine cotton or silk and sometimes from fine hide. The sources do not describe the weaving process.
How is the uttariya worn?
It is draped from the back of the neck around the arms and over the upper body. It is often thrown over the left shoulder.
When is the uttariya worn?
It is worn daily over kurtas and in Hindu temple rituals for deities. Buddhist laymen also use it in saffron.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Uttariya", 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 2026-11-14.
More from India
All the sarees of India
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSariसाड़ी
An unstitched cloth draped over the body, worn across the Indian subcontinentCotton · Brocade · Ikat
🇵🇰 Pakistan and 1 moreAjrakاجرڪ (Sindhi), اجرک (Saraiki)
A Sindhi block-printed cloth in indigo and crimson, worn as a shawl or wrapCotton · Block print
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGazzi cloth
A coarse handloom cotton of the Punjab region, woven from local short staple cottonCotton
🇮🇳 IndiaChanderi sari
A fine silk or cotton sari woven in Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, with zari motifsSilk · Brocade · Zari work
Its cousins elsewhere
All cotton sarees
🇮🇳 IndiaPatola sari
A double ikat silk saree from Patan, Gujarat, with patterns dyed into both threadsSilk · Ikat
🇮🇳 IndiaBhagalpur sari
A tussar silk sari from Bhagalpur, known for its dyeing and its handloomsSilk
🇮🇩 IndonesiaGeringsingᬕ᭄ᬭᬶᬂᬲᬶᬂ
A sacred double ikat cloth woven only in Tenganan, a Bali Aga village in BaliCotton · Ikat