Traditional Costume and Dresses of Ladakh

1. Art Integrated Project
Topic:-Traditional Costume and Dresses of Ladakh
Session-2020-21

2. Hello!
WE are from class-X
Biprodeep Banerjee &
Manajit Saren
I am here because I love
You can Ourselves at:
manajitsaren116@gmail.com, 9933342584
biprodeep.banerjee6076@gmail.com, 7470113333
2

3. Content
3
SL.NO TOPIC SLIDE.NO
01 INTRODUCTION 04
02 TRADITIONAL LADAKHI DRESSES 05-14
03 CONCLUSION 15
04 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 16
05 DECLARATION 17

4. Introduction
Traditional clothing plays an important role in the cultural identity of a
country or a region. It is soaked deep in history and holds a significant
value for the members of the society. Traditional Ladakhi dresses have also
enabled people of Ladakh to protect themselves from the gruelling weather,
especially winter chill. Livestock has not only provided food to the native
people of Ladakh but also wool for clothing. Wool and pashmina have been
used to make shawls, caps, socks, and thermals to protect the people from
the harsh climate.
Ladakhi costumes have evolved continuously over a period of time. Even
though traditional costumes are now mostly worn on festive occasions or
during performances, the people of Ladakh take a lot of pride in wearing
the traditional clothes and have preserved the centuries-old rich culture and
tradition. It shows that the people of Ladakh still respect the ancestral
traditions and are proud of their rich history.

5. 5
Goncha and Sulma

6. 6
Goncha and Sulma
Goncha or Kos (commonly used word in Ladakh is a voluminous robe resembling a coat made of
wool, velvet, cotton, polyester, or a combination of these. Goncha is worn by males, the everyday wear
is usually in black, grey, burgundy, or earthen colour. However, the goncha used during weddings
is brightly coloured and is made of brocade, silk or velvet imported from Nepal and Bhutan. While
the young prefer goncha made of lighter material, elders still wear goncha made of wool to protect
themselves from the cold. Goncha is tied around the waist using a skeyraks or belt made of thick
fabric.
Sulma is the flowing robe worn by females. Unlike the male goncha, sulma is brightly coloured and
is made of wool, brocade, velvet or silk. Females use bright-coloured sash or skeyraks to tie around the
waist. Sulma is stitched in such a way that it accentuates into an elegant ball gown. Sulma is
often paired with tilin, a blouse made of either cotton, nylon or silk. It is loosely fitted and has wide
sleeves that can be rolled up during the summer. It is plain or patterned with designs. Sulma is worn
by married women and is a sign that the women have tied the nuptial knot.
Recently, the local administration has made it mandatory for government employees to wear the
traditional dress once a week to preserve the rich culture and heritage of Ladakh.

7. 7
Changpa nomads dress

8. 8
Changpa nomads dress
Changpas are semi-nomadic people who live in Changthang, a high plateau area
which lies to the east near the Chinese border, in the Pangong lake and Tso Moriri
lake area. Rife with Tibetan culture, the people of the Changpa tribe have different
traditions, dialect and costume. They are easily distinguished due to their thick
white robe called Kos Kar or Lawa Goncha. Since the Changthang area is colder than
other parts of Ladakh, the nomads need protection from the treacherous environment
and the extreme weather conditions. The Kos Kar is used by the nomads since it is
made of sheep wool and skin turned inside out and is unusually warm and rugged.
The shoes worn by these nomads are also made of sheep wool and skin that protect
them from the cold and the challenging terrain.
The Changpa nomads herd pashmina goats which produce the world-renowned
pashmina wool used for making shawls and clothing items. However, the nomads
don’t use this wool for themselves and they export it as raw material to Kashmir.

9. 9
Cape: Yogar and Lokpa

10. 10
Cape: Yogar and Lokpa
Yogar and lokpa are square capes worn by women around their
shoulders to cover the back. These sheepskin-made capes are worn
with the wool facing inside to keep the wearer warm. Yogar is
embroidered using cotton or brocade silk with rainbow tassels and
sheep wool lining to make it more appealing. Lokpa, on the other
hand, is only made of sheepskin and is bereft of any design or
embroidery. Yogar and lokpa not only provide warmth but also
act as cushions while carrying a heavy load on the back. Yogar is
used as an accessory during special occasions such as marriages
and festivals. A beautifully designed yogar is called a bok.

11. 11
Ladakhi headdress: Perak

12. 12
Ladakhi headdress: Perak
Perak is the bridal headdress heavy with blue turquoise,
coral, shells and other precious stones. Perak sits atop the
bride’s head and expands outwards from both sides. It
runs from the bride’s forehead till the lower back. Black
animal hair and yak felt is used to decorate the flaps.
Perak is a prized possession, for it is considered a status
symbol and often passed down from mother to the
daughter.

13. 13
Drokpa headdress: Tepi

14. 14
Drokpa headdress: Tepi
Drokpa or Brokpa tribe is said to be the last pure Aryan race
and are ethnically, socially and culturally different from
rest of the Ladakhi people. Drokpas live in the villages of the
Dha-Hanu valley. They have a distinct culture which
reflects in their clothes, especially the headdress called tepi.
The exquisite headdress is a decorative silver base
garlanded with fresh and dry flowers from the mountains.
Although men wear a similar cap, it has metal coins along
with flowers.

15. Conclusion
The document encourages the how traditional clothing plays an
important role in the cultural identity of a country or a region.
It is soaked deep in history and holds a significant value for the
members of the society. Traditional Ladakhi dresses have also
enabled people of Ladakh to protect themselves from the
gruelling weather, especially winter chill. Livestock has not
only provided food to the native people of Ladakh but also wool
for clothing. Wool and pashmina have been used to make
shawls, caps, socks, and thermals to protect the people from the
harsh climate.

16. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Primarily we would thank God for being able to complete this
project with success. Then we would able to thank our english
teacher Mr. Akash Debnath, whose valuable guidance has been
the ones that helped us to patch this project and make it full
proof success his suggestions and her instructions has served as
the major contributor towards the completion of the project.
Then we would thank our parents who have helped us with their
valuable suggestions and guidance has been helpful in various
phases of completions of this project. Last but not least we would
like to thank our classmates who have helped me a lot.

17. Declaration
We hereby declare that the project work entitled
“Traditional Costume and Dresses of Ladakh”.
Submitted to our English teacher- ‘Mr. Akash Debnath’,
Kendriya Vidyalaya Balurghat prepared by MANAJIT
SAREN & BIPRODEEP BANERJEE.
Manajit Saren-
Biprodeep Banerjee-