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Gamcha (or Gamchhā, Gāmchhā, Gāmuchhā (Odia), Gamusā (Assamese) and Angochha) is a rectangular piece of traditional coarse cotton cloth, sometimes with a checked design, worn as traditional scarf by men in the Indian subcontinent, mainly in Eastern India (including Assam), Bangladesh, as well as in eastern Terai of Nepal.. It also became bit popular in other cultures of India and now in what is known as Pakistan after the Indian partition, as well as various parts of South and Southeast Asia. The word "Gamcha" is Bengali language/Assamese word which comes from two very simple and commonly used Bengali language/Assamese words, (গা) ga which means "Body", and (মুছা) mucha which means "wipe". Literally translated, it means 'something to wipe the body with' however, interpreting the word gamcha as the towel is misleading. It is often worn on one side of the shoulder. Its appearance varies from region to region, and it has been traditionally worn as a scarf by the Odia people men, Bhojpuri people men and Bengalis men. Gamcha is also a headwear for Bengalis men in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Gamucha was also mentioned in Odia language Mahabharata by Sarala Dasa as part of the traditional dress of Odia men. Weavers of traditional tantubaya or jugi community migrated from Bangladesh to Tripura and weavers of Odisha produce good quality gamucha.
The gamcha is most commonly found with Tartan and striped patterns of red, orange or green. Plain white gamchhas with coloured (embroidered or printed) borders from Odisha and Assam (for traditional Gamcha, see Gamosa) are local handicrafts, and may be worn around the neck with traditional Indian attire. In western areas, gamchas are primarily made in red colour and are plain like cloth. In southern India, gamucha is more coarse and are available in various dyes. Even homemade lightweight fur towels are also popularly termed as gamchhas. Gamucha are worn by the South Asian people, especially in the Indian states of Assam, Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and the Purvanchal region, because they are better suited to the country's Tropics climate. They may also be found in Turkish bath as a traditional male loincloth and towel worn during bathing and massage.
In Ahom King days, Ahom soldiers wife's used to weave a gamusa within a night and present it to her husband to ensure safety and victory.
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