Kurta-Pajama,
consisting of two pieces of garments, is one of the basic clothing of
the Indian men. The first garment is a kurta that is like a loose long
shirt almost reaching the knees, whereas the second one is the pajama or
pyjama, which is a lightweight drawstring trouser. Though mostly worn on
formal occasions, kurta pajama can also be worn casually. Infact, there
are many Indian men who wear this dress as their sleepwear.
The term 'pyjama' crept into the English language from Hindustani, a
language from which Urdu and Hindi originated. The word originally
derives from the Persian word 'Payjama' meaning 'leg garment'. It was
due to the British colonialization of India that the term 'pajama' and
the dress spread to other parts of the world. In India, one will often
find politicians wearing white starched Kurta Pajama. As a tradition,
civilians wear this dress during festivities and other special occasions
like holi, religious ceremony, etc.
Only soft material fabrics are used for making kurta pajama as it is
supposed to be a comfortable loose fitting dress. Though good quality
cotton is the most common material used for making kurta pajama, other
fabrics like silk and satin are also used. Normally adults prefer
wearing the kurta and pajama in neutral shades, as they give a very
dignified look. Children, on the other hand, wear this dress in varied
hues and patterns. Kolhapuri chappals are the most preferred footwear
for this type of attire.
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