ABOUT INDIA AND THE PICTURES BELOW

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21986, 9 January 1937, Page 5 (Supplement)

ABOUT INDIA AND THE PICTURES BELOW

Nowhere in the world, probably, Is there a land under one rule in which the inhabitants differ in so many ways as in India. In the first place the hill people are not at all like the' plains people. Then the Hindus, Sikhs, Mohammedans and Buddhists are entirely distinct from one another. To one who can read its meaning the dress of a person proclaims the rank, occupation, caste, religion and wealth of the wearer. If you were an East Indian boy or girl you would not have the wide

choice of clothing you have now. Every least article of apparel would be definitely indicated by your station in life. And so, it would be difficult to show the “dress of India” in one page. a . India is a country of contrasts. Its bright romantic side shows a land of silks, spices and jewels, of cloth of eold. and silver brocade of Kashmir shawls and priceless carpets, pf golden temples and marble shrines swept with peacock feather brooms. Its native princes, mounted on elephants, wear robes embroidered with jewels and turbans heavy with pearls. On the other side of the picture are millions of people who live near to starvation. These very poor have a simple costume; for men their own brown skins and a loin

cloth; and for women a sari that does duty as a dress. The picture shows the costumes worn by those who can afford more. The sari worn by the Hindu women and girls is about 15 feet long, and a yard wide, and is of cotton or silk. 'Half is draped round the waist and hangs to the feet in folds. The rest is passed over the head to the left shoulder. This is. the usual head covering, but in seme places a jewelled cap is worn underneath. The banks of India are the wrists, ears and ankles of the people, principally the women. Anklets, bracelets, earrings, finger and toe rings, as well as nose rings and buttons are elaborate. as the fortunes of the family will allow.

Men wear turbans which,, by , their 1 colour, size and method _oI folding, indicate the station of the , wearer, as well as serving to pro- ... tect him from the torrid heat. The turban is a magical headgear which turns the most' commonplace ; man • into an heroic figure. The garments at the top of the page might be those of an Indian pnpce or Maharaja. The figure wears a brocaded silk coat with tight white trousers and shoes of silk or leather with turned-up toes. Tna other garment is called. an anga, and is worn by. both Hindus and Mohammedans, but the latter has an opening in the left, while the Hindu has it on the right. There is a silk embroidered border, ana an undergarment to match. A broad band of cloth of gold is the girdle. Strings of precious stones , adorn the costume, and an aigrette and jewels trim the turban, rna lower garment is that of a Brahmin, long coat of dark suk over full, loose trousers. Colour the garments as you will; then stiffen the figures by pasting on cardboard, and dry* ing under a weight. Cut out aU the pieces, and see how ypu£ ; nobles of. India look m their various garments. Keep the htua /. figures for an international dou» ; museum of your own.