Head dress woman, 1922
Taranga Hindu women use a headwear called "
taranga" (), which is a headdress which becomes smaller down at back, towards the heels. It is popular in some areas of Kashmir.
Kasaba Kashmiri Muslim women use a headwear known as the "kasaba" (). The kasaba is padded by means of a turban and is pinned together by brooches. A veil made of pashmina or Silk is pinned to the top of the kasaba that descends towards the back of the neck. There are two types of kasaba: "
Thoud kasaba" and "
Bonn kasaba".
Thoud kasaba (high kasaba) sits on the head like a crown, worn only by married women belonging to elite families.
House of khwajawal in
Naid kadal made the most beautiful kasabas.
Bonn kasaba (low kasaba) sits on head like a bandana, worn by commoners and tribal women. Kundan kasaba were only made by house of
Kundanghar in
Khwaja bazar. made of either wool or jamewar, which is a mixture of wool and cotton, Female pheran dresses are designed with colorful flowerlike designed elements and styles. Male pheran dresses are quite simple, without any colourful design. The traditional pheran falls to the feet like a gown. This style was universally worn by the
Kashmiri Hindu and
Kashmiri Muslim communities into the later 19th century C.E. However, a modern version worn by Muslims is knee-length, loose and stitched on the front side ane finishes, while Hindus often still wear their pherans long, extending down the legs. Ankle length Pherans are tied at the waist. Intricate embroideries or flower styles are a popular on Kashmiri ladies pherans. The embroideries or flower designs are made of thin metal threads; this kind of embroidery is known as 'Tille' in Kashmiri language. Over time, the art of embellishing pherans has evolved, with a variety of embroidery styles enhancing their elegance. Some of the most prominent embroidery types found on modern pherans include: •
Tilla embroidery – Traditional Kashmiri gold or silver threadwork, popular on festive and bridal pherans. •
Aari embroidery – Intricate chain-stitch embroidery, giving the pheran a refined, handcrafted look. •
Zari embroidery – A delicate and luxurious style using gold or silver threads, similar to Tilla but often more intricate. •
Sozni embroidery – A fine needlework technique, used mainly to enhance woolen pherans with artistic patterns. With time, designers and artisans have introduced new styles, blending tradition with modern aesthetics, making the pheran a versatile outfit worn for both casual and festive occasions.
Poots The poots () is the same as the pheran but made of lighter material; it is worn beneath the pheran. It is generally used to protect the pheran from burns from the
kangri. It also provides extra warmth during winters, double layer insulation from the cold winter days.
Suthan/shalwar Traditionally, the pheran and poots were worn without a lower garment. Indeed, in neighbouring
Hunza too, women did not wear pajamas until 1890 and in Nagar until 1925. Since the latter part of the 19th century, loose suthans (shalwars) and
churidar pajamas of the
Punjab region became popular in
Kashmir. Accordingly, the suthan or
churidar pajama can form part of the pheran ensemble but is not a must. The Kashmiri suthan is baggy and loose and is similar to the Dogri suthan worn in the
Jammu region. Some versions are similar to the shalwars worn in
Afghanistan. However, since the 1960s, the straight cut Punjabi salwar has become popular. ==Modern fashion==