Tradition attire gets a new lease of life in Indian fashion - The Sunday Guardian

The ’60s and ’70s saw the bloom of ghaghra-choli , now commonly known as long skirts. Watch any old Bollywood film, if it has a rural setting, you will see the lead heroine prancing around in a ghaghra on peppy numbers. From Vyjayanthimala to Sadhana and from Madhuri Dixit to Deepika Padukone, ghaghra has retained its significance in Indian fashion. Vibrant, colourful ghaghra-cholis were a way of convincing audiences that in all villages across India, this is the only outfit that women wore. That there existed a state-to-state distinction was completely overlooked. Since the trend has not seen much change in Bollywood representations, here’s what you need to know about the ghaghra.

Also known as lehnga or lacha depending on which state you’re in, the ghagra kept on modifying according to varying tastes and cultural traditions in various parts of India. Over the years, it has beautifully blended with the local cultures. This voluminous skirt is majorly worn by the tribal women of Rajasthan and Gujarat. And now, this nomadic cultural artefact, celebrated for its bohemian spirit, is taking the forefront in the fashion world.

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