Costumes

 

Nepali costumes differ significantly with climate and regions. Tradionally, men wear a long shirt, or daura, and trouser, or suruwal. Daura-Suruwal is typically termed as ‘Labeda-Suruwal’ and the dress has several religious beliefs, like the daura has eight strings that serves to tie itself up around the body, since eight is the lucky number in Nepali mythology. Moreover, the daura has five pleats or kallis, signifying Pancha Buddha or Pancha Ratna, and the closed neck of the Daura signifies the snake around the Lord Shiva’s neck.

 

Daura-Suruwal

Photo Source URL:http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/communicate/blog/student//images/man_in_nepali_national_dress.jpg

 

Womenfolk wear blouse, or cholo, and cotton sari (Guneu). According to status, gold and silver ornaments are worn by Nepali women. Typical signs of married women are red/green glass bangles, potey (long red/green bead-necklace with or without gold decoration) and sindoor. Hindu tradition and culture forbids widows of this luxury.

http://nepal.saarctourism.org/nepal-culture.html

Cultural Treasures of Nepal. Nepal Tourism Board.2009.