Churidar

Churidars, also churidar pyjamas, are tightly fitting trousers worn by both men and women in Indian Subcontinent. Churidars are a variant of the common shalwar pants. Shalwars are cut wide at the top and narrow at the ankle. Churidars narrow more quickly so that contours of the legs are revealed. They are usually cut on the bias, making them naturally stretchy. Stretch is important when pants are closefitting. They are also longer than the leg and sometimes finish with a tightly fitting buttoned cuff at the ankle. The excess length falls into folds and appears like a set of bangles resting on the ankle (hence 'churidar'; 'churi': bangle, 'dar': like). When the wearer is sitting, the extra material is the "ease" that makes it possible to bend the legs and sit comfortably. The word ''churidar'' is from Urdu and Hindi which made its way into English only in the 20th century.Hawkins, R. E. 1984. ''Common Indian words in English''. Oxford University Press, New Delhi. Earlier, tight-fitting churidar-like pants worn in India were referred to by the British as ''Moghul breeches'', ''long-drawers'', or ''mosquito drawers.''Yule, Henry and A. C. Burnell. 1903. ''Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive. London: John Murray. 1021 pages.

Churidars are usually worn with a ''kameez'' (tunic) by women or a ''kurta'' (a loose overshirt) by men, or they can form part of a bodice and skirt ensemble.

Gallery

Image:Kashmiri children in churidar 1890.jpg, Portrait of Kashmiri children wearing churidar pyjamas circa 1890
Image:churidar.jpg, 19th century painting of Indian women wearing transparent skirts over churidar pants
Image:Silk kurta churidar mojari2.jpg, Cotton churidar worn with silk side-opening kurta and ''mojari'' shoes
Image:Vita in Bangladesh.jpg, A woman visiting Bangladesh wearing a churidar
File:Photograph of President Truman shaking hands with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of India upon Nehru's arrival at... - NARA - 200152.jpg, Jawaharlal Nehru, prime minister of India, dressed in churidar being received by American president Harry S. Truman upon arrival at the National Airport, Washington DC, October 1949
File:All India Muslim League Working Committee Lahore 1940.jpg, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, center, and Liaquat Ali Khan, its first prime minister, extreme left, both in churidars, at the All-India Muslim League Working Committee meeting in Lahore, March 1940
Image:Choonasee pant churidar.jpg, Portrait of the son of H.H. Chunnasee Rajoonath Pant (wearing churidars). 1860. Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library.
Image:Maharaja nabha churidar.jpg, Portrait of Sir Hira Singh, Raja of Nabha, Punjab, in churidars. c. 1890. Oriental and India Office Collection, British Library.

See also

* Shalwar kameez
* Jammu dress
* Kandura

References

{{Clothing in South Asia

Indian clothing
Bangladeshi clothing
Pakistani clothing
Hosiery
Trousers and shorts