Muslim wear
The Eid saree, the bridal gharara and sari of the Bengal and Hyderabad communities.
Muslim women in Bengal, Hyderabad, Uttar Pradesh and other parts of South Asia have long worn the saree, and the Eid and nikah saree is part of many families' celebrations. Muslim women also wear the gharara, sharara, salwar kameez and burqa, and the choice varies by region, family and personal belief.
When it is worn
In Bengal and Bangladesh, many Muslim women wear sarees daily and for Eid, weddings and other celebrations, and the saree is part of a long textile history of the delta, including the famous Dhakai jamdani. In Hyderabad, Lucknow and Bhopal, the saree is worn alongside the gharara and sharara for Eid and the nikah. In Kerala, Mappila Muslim women have traditionally worn the thattam and a chatta with a mundu or saree, though the practice has changed. Many women combine the saree with a scarf or a headcover for modesty.
Eid and the nikah
For Eid, many families buy new clothes, and a saree in a rich colour such as green, maroon, blue, pink or gold is a popular choice, along with salwar suits. Brides at the nikah often wear red, maroon, pink or green, in silk, georgette or Banarasi, though ivory and gold are also common. In Hyderabad, the khada dupatta and the Hyderabadi gharara are bridal traditions, and in Bengal and Bangladesh, the Benarasi, Dhakai and Jamdani are bridal and festive sarees. Practice differs, and many brides wear a mix of traditional and modern clothes.
Weavers and textile crafts
Muslim families have a long and large place in Indian textiles. The weavers of Banaras, Mubarakpur, Mau and Bhagalpur include many Muslims, and the jamdani of Dhaka and the Chikankari of Lucknow have been developed by Muslim artisans for generations. The patronage of the Mughal and Nizami courts shaped the fine muslin, brocade and embroidery that remain famous. Hyderabad's Himroo and Mashru, and Lucknow's chikankari and Awadhi zardozi, are examples of crafts in which Muslim families have been central.
Customs and etiquette
Many Muslim women dress modestly, covering the arms, the head or the whole body, and some wear a hijab or burqa with a saree or other clothes, while others do not. Practice depends on the family, the region and personal choice. At a mosque, women who are permitted to enter should cover the head and wear loose, modest clothes. Guests invited to an Eid meal or nikah usually dress well and modestly, avoid very revealing clothes and may wear festive colours, though black is sometimes worn at weddings. Ask the host if you are unsure.
Worth knowing
- Jamdani: A fine muslin weave of the Bengal delta, with patterns woven in.
- Chikankari: The white thread embroidery of Lucknow.
- Himroo: A cotton and silk brocade of Aurangabad and Hyderabad.
- Khada dupatta: The long, pleated bridal dupatta of Hyderabad.
- Gharara: A flared two-piece garment worn for Eid and the nikah.
- Benarasi saree: A silk brocade woven by many Muslim families in Banaras.
Good to know
- Dry clean heavily embroidered nikah and Eid sarees.
- Wash chikankari by hand in mild soap and dry in shade.
- Fold brocade in muslin and refold it along new lines each year.
Sources and further reading
Original text by the EveryPallu desk, written with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. If we have something wrong, tell us.
Muslim on EveryPallu
The sarees written up so far, newest and best known first.
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Sarong: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kebaya: Simon_sees, CC BY 2.0, source