Punjabi dress: phulkari dupatta, Punjabi suit and kurta

The traditional Punjabi dress for women is a kameez with a full shalwar (or a ghagra for celebrations), finished with a phulkari dupatta, a paranda in the hair and khussa shoes. Men wear a kurta with a tehmat or lacha, a turban and khussa. Phulkari, meaning "flower work", is Punjab's signature embroidery.

Punjabi dress for women

• Kameez or kurti: long or short, in bright colours, often with embroidered necklines.
• Shalwar: a full, gathered shalwar (Patiala style) or a straight one.
• Ghagra or lehnga: a wide, swinging skirt worn for weddings, mehndi and folk dance.
• Phulkari dupatta: the star of the outfit, embroidered with bright floss.
• Paranda and khussa: a tasselled hair braid ornament and embroidered leather shoes.

Phulkari and bagh embroidery

Phulkari is the folk embroidery of the Punjab region, on both sides of the border. It is worked in long and short darning stitches from the back of the cloth, traditionally with untwisted silk floss (patt) on handwoven cotton (khaddar). The stitches catch the light, so the colour seems to shine.

• Phulkari: motifs spread across the cloth, with the base fabric showing between them.
• Bagh ("garden"): embroidery covers the whole cloth, so no base fabric shows.

Phulkari shawls and dupattas were traditionally made by women for their families and worn at weddings, births and other milestones. Today a phulkari dupatta with a plain suit is the easiest way to wear Punjabi culture.

Punjabi suit designs

• Plain suit with phulkari dupatta: a solid-colour kameez and shalwar that lets the dupatta stand out.
• Embroidered neckline: a simple design for daily wear.
• Party wear: gota, sequin or mirror borders on the hem and sleeves.

Punjabi kurta and lacha for men

The men's Punjabi dress is a long kurta with a tehmat or lacha (also called a chadra), a wrapped, unstitched lower garment, often with a waistcoat, a turban (pag) and khussa shoes. For everyday and formal wear, a kurta pajama or shalwar kameez is common.

Punjabi dress for girls, boys and culture day

Punjab Culture Day is celebrated on 14 March, and Punjabi outfits are a favourite at school culture days too.

• Girls: a bright kurti or frock with a phulkari dupatta, a paranda and khussa. A small ghagra works well for dancing.
• Boys: a kurta with a lacha, a small turban and a waistcoat.

For outfit ideas from all provinces, see our culture day guide.

Ordering a Punjabi style dress

Balochify specialises in hand-embroidered Balochi dresses. If you want a phulkari-style dupatta or a Punjabi suit with hand embroidery, send us a picture. We tell you honestly whether our artisans can make it, and the price and time. We take orders from Pakistan, the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

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