Kamiz and salwar

This marriage dress of a Punjabi bride is fully embellished with gota and sitara (spangles) work on self designed satin silk. The design comprises of floral and geometrical patterns. The waist of the salwar is wide in keeping with the fashion of dheela (loose) pyjama of the era and region.

The salwar has the traditional hand woven nada (drawstring). The weaving of nada has been a traditional craft of Punjab. It is used to tie salwar to the waist. When women practiced this creative skill they would be seen in the threshold of a house with yarn stretched over a wooden cross piece usually wedged across the frame of a charpai (bed). They would then weave the drawstring with silk or cotton yarn manipulating the yarn into mesh. Both ends were embellished with elaborate knots, tassels and fringes. The craft is on now on the verge of extinction.