India's Finery

Salwar Kameez

Also spelled shalvar kameez, shalwar kameez, or shalwar qameez, is a traditional dress worn by both women and men in South Asia and specially Pakistan and India. It is sometimes known as "Punjabi suit," in Britain and Canada. Shalwar or salwar are loose pajama-like trousers. The legs are wide at the top, and narrow at the ankle. The kameez is a long shirt or tunic. 

When women wear the salwar kameez, they usually wear a long scarf or shawl called a dupatta around the head or neck. For Muslim women, the dupatta is an alternative to the burqa. For Sikh and Hindu women the dupatta is useful when the head must be covered, as in a Gurdwara or a temple, or the presence of elders. For other women, the dupatta is simply a stylish accessory that can be worn over one shoulder or draped around the chest and over both shoulders.

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