A kurti top or simply kurti, is an upper garment worn in the Indian subcontinent that does not leave the midriff bare. It is similar to a waistcoat, jacket, or blouse.
Kurti
In modern usage, a short
kurta is referred to as the kurti, which is usually is the attire of females. However, traditionally, the term kurti refers to waist coats,
[ Forbes, Duncan (1861) A smaller Hindustani and English dictionary] jackets and blouses
[ Bahri, Hardev (2006) Advanced learner's Hindi English Dictionary] which sit above the waist without side slits, and are believed to have descended from the tunic of the
Shunga Empire (2nd century BC).
[Panjab University Research Bulletin: Arts, Volume 13, Issue 1 - Volume 14, Issue (1982) [3]] The kurti is distinguished from the
choli by the latter leaving the midriff exposed.
The Kurti can be a unisex garment, in the same way the Kurta can be a unisex garment. The main difference generally is that the Kurti Top is much longer, whereas the Kurta is a bit shorter.
It is a typical dressing pattern of Indians especially the northern regions.
The trend and origin of this clothing style is from the northern India and even today the other parts of the nation though modernalized wear kurti but it is worn by females majorly in north while the south prefers saree.
There are a number of styles of kurti which include the following:
Punjabi kurti
In the
Punjab region, the kurti is a short cotton waist coat
[ Punjab District Gazetteers: Rawalpindi District (v. 28A) (1909)] which is buttoned down the front to the waist. In the past, women wore a chain of gold or silver called zanjiri around the buttons. Men wore the zanjiri on the
kurta in the
Punjab region.
[Kehal, Harkesh Singh (2011) Alop ho riha Punjabi virsa bhag dooja. Lokgeet Parkashan. ]
Another style of Punjabi kurti is a short version of the anga (robe).[Compiled and published under the authority of the Punjab government (1939)Punjab District and State Gazetteers: Part A.[5]] The kurti can also be half or full sleeved and hip length with no front or back opening. Men's kurti is called phatui or wastkot in Punjabi.[ Walter Pullin Hares (1929) An English-Punjabi Dictionary] The kurti of South Punjab, Pakistan is referred to as the Saraiki kurti.
Based on the wish of the consumer the length of the kurti can be decided.
Bihari kurti
In
Bihar, the term kurti is used to refer to a
bodice[ Flynn, Dorris (1071) Costumes of India] which is a combination of the choli and jacket.
Uttar Pradesh
The kurti in
Uttar Pradesh and the adjoining
Himalayas region is a short blouse.
[Vanessa Betts, Victoria McCulloch (2014) Indian Himalaya Footprint Handbook: Includes Corbett National Park, Darjeeling, Leh, Sikkim [8]]
Gujarat
In
Gujarat and Kathiawar, the type of kurti (coat) falls to just below the waist.
[Sharma, Brijendra Nath (1972) Social and Cultural History of Northern India: C. 1000-1200 A.D [9]]
Rajasthan
The men's kurt in
Rajasthan is a full sleeved, tightly fitting, buttonless vest.
[ Census of India, 1961: Rajasthan]
==Sindh==
, British India, in kurti]]
See also
