India has no single national dress. Each state has its own outfits, shaped by climate, local fabrics and festivals. Women commonly wear a saree, a lehenga choli or a salwar kameez, and men wear a kurta with pajama or a dhoti. This guide covers 10 states, with the women’s and men’s outfit for each, the fabric it is made from and when people wear it.
| State | Women | Men | Worn mostly at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rajasthan | Lehenga choli | Dhoti kurta, turban | Weddings, Diwali |
| Punjab | Salwar kameez, phulkari dupatta | Kurta pajama | Baisakhi, Lohri |
| Gujarat | Chaniya choli | Kediyu with dhoti | Navratri |
| Tamil Nadu | Kanchipuram silk saree | Veshti, angavastram | Pongal, weddings |
| West Bengal | Tant or jamdani saree | Dhoti kurta | Durga Puja |
| Maharashtra | Nauvari saree | Dhoti kurta | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| Kashmir | Pheran | Pheran | Winter, daily wear |
| Assam | Mekhela chador | Dhoti kurta, gamosa | Bihu |
| Kerala | Mundum neriyathum | Mundu | Onam, Vishu |
| Uttar Pradesh | Chikankari suit, Banarasi saree | Kurta pajama, sherwani | Weddings, Eid |
1. Rajasthan: Lehenga Choli and Dhoti Kurta
Women in Rajasthan wear the lehenga choli, a long flared skirt with a fitted blouse and an odhni (a long scarf) over the head. The fabric is often cotton or silk, with bandhani tie-dye, leheriya stripes or mirror work. Men wear a dhoti with a kurta, and a colourful turban, called a pagri, completes the look. The bright colours and light cotton suit the dry heat of the desert. You will see these outfits at weddings, Teej and Diwali. If you buy for a shop, see our wholesale lehenga choli range, or read about the textile markets of Jaipur.
2. Punjab: Kurta Pajama and Salwar Kameez
Punjabi women wear the salwar kameez, a long tunic with loose trousers and a dupatta. Phulkari, a hand-embroidered floral work, is the best-known detail, and a phulkari dupatta is often the part people remember. Men wear a kurta with pajama or a tehmat, and many wear a turban. These outfits are comfortable for work and for dancing, and they come out in full colour for Baisakhi and Lohri. For shop owners, see wholesale salwar kameez and Punjabi patiyala suits.
3. Gujarat: Chaniya Choli and Kediyu Dhoti
During Navratri, Gujarat is known for the chaniya choli. It has a wide, flared skirt (chaniya), a short blouse (choli) and a dupatta, and is decorated with mirrors, beads and embroidery. Men wear a kediyu, a short flared jacket, with a dhoti or churidar. Cotton and bandhani fabrics keep dancers cool during Garba and Dandiya. Our Ahmedabad market guide lists where traders buy bandhani and festive wear.
4. Tamil Nadu: Saree and Veshti
In Tamil Nadu, the saree is the main outfit for women, and Kanchipuram silk with a gold zari border is the choice for weddings and temple visits. Men wear a veshti, a white or cream dhoti, with an angavastram over the shoulder or a shirt. The fabric is usually cotton or silk, light enough for a hot, humid climate. For buyers, see Kanchipuram silk sarees wholesale and how to identify a pure Kanjivaram saree.
5. West Bengal: Saree and Dhoti Kurta
Bengali women are known for tant and jamdani sarees. These are light cotton weaves with fine patterns and borders, and the white saree with a red border is the classic choice for Durga Puja. Men wear a dhoti with a kurta, called a panjabi, usually in white or a soft pastel. The fabrics are made for the humid weather and still look neat. Our guide to Kolkata’s wholesale markets covers where sarees and cotton are traded.
6. Maharashtra: Nauvari Saree and Dhoti Kurta
The nauvari saree is a nine-yard saree draped between the legs, like a dhoti, so the wearer can move freely. It is worn at Ganesh Chaturthi, Gudi Padwa and weddings. Men wear a dhoti with a kurta, and a pheta (turban) on formal days. You can read more in our post on nauvari saree styles and draping.
7. Kashmir: Pheran and Salwar Kameez
The pheran is a long, loose woollen tunic worn by both women and men through the cold Kashmiri winter. Women’s pherans often have tilla or aari embroidery around the neck and sleeves, and a salwar kameez is worn underneath. Many people carry a kangri, a small clay fire pot, inside the pheran for warmth. Retailers who stock winter fabric can look at wholesale dress material.
8. Assam: Mekhela Chador and Dhoti Kurta
The mekhela chador is a two-piece outfit: a wrapped skirt (mekhela) and a shawl (chador) draped over a blouse. It is woven in Assam’s own silks, such as muga and pat, or in cotton. Men wear a dhoti with a kurta and a gamosa, a woven cloth with a red border. Both are worn most often at Bihu. See our wholesale sarees if you sell silk and cotton sarees.
9. Kerala: Mundum Neriyathum and Mundu
Kerala women wear the mundum neriyathum, a two-piece cream or white outfit with a gold kasavu border. It is the standard dress for Onam and Vishu and for weddings. Men wear a mundu, a white dhoti, with a shirt or a jubba. The cotton is light and breathable for the coastal heat. For stockists, see south cotton silk sarees wholesale.
10. Uttar Pradesh: Chikankari and Banarasi Wear
Uttar Pradesh is known for the white-on-white embroidery called chikankari, made in Lucknow, and for Banarasi silk from Varanasi. Women wear chikankari kurtas, anarkali suits and Banarasi sarees. Men wear a kurta pajama, and a sherwani for weddings and Eid. The Mughal court shaped much of this style. See Lucknowi chikankari kurti wholesale and our guide to Varanasi’s markets.
Conclusion
India’s traditional dresses change with every state, but the pattern repeats: local fabric for the local weather, and a special outfit for each festival. If you want to see how these outfits are traded, our textile market directory lists the markets by city. To see what to buy for your shop, browse our wholesale sarees and wholesale lehenga choli pages.
Frequently asked questions
What is the traditional dress of India?
India has no single national dress. Women commonly wear a saree, lehenga choli or salwar kameez, and men wear a kurta with pajama or a dhoti. Each state has its own version.
Which state is known for the Kanchipuram saree?
Tamil Nadu.
What is the traditional dress for Navratri?
In Gujarat, women wear a chaniya choli and men wear a kediyu with a dhoti.
What is a pheran?
A long woollen tunic worn in Kashmir in winter.
