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While many of the actual food items purchased are the same (tomatoes, potatoes, green beans, etc.), they are often prepared differently from typical U.S. foods. Also, it is not uncommon for an Indian housewife to purchase her vegetables and other food items from the neighborhood grocer who brings his cart into the neighborhoods each day. Click here to view some typical Indian recipes. |
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India is famous for her crowded markets. Most clothing items and household goods would be purchased in a market like this one in Delhi. This particular market is so crowded, it is known as the "Sweat Market." |
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Clothing
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For a single length of material, the sari is a very versatile garment! It is only one of the many traditional garments worn by women, yet it has somehow become the national dress of Indian women. A sari is a rectangular piece of cloth which is five to six yards in length. The style, color and texture of this cloth varies and it might be made from cotton, silk or one of the several man-made materials. The sari is not cut or tailored for a particular size. This garment can fit any size. The sari can also be worn in several ways and may conceal or reveal. The way the sari is worn can indicate the status, age, occupation, region and religion of a woman. Do you know how to wrap a sari? Go to this site to learn! |
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The tightly fitted, short blouse worn under a sari is a choli. The choli evolved as a form of clothing in 10th century AD and the first cholis were only front covering; the back was always bare. Another popular attire of women in India is the salwar-kameez. This dress evolved as a comfortable and respectable garment for women in Kashmir and Punjab, but is now immensely popular in all regions of India. Salwars are pajama-like trousers drawn tightly in at the waist and the ankles. Over the salwars, women wear a long and loose tunic known as a kameez. One might occasionally come across women wearing a churidar instead of a salwar. A churidar is similar to the salwar but is tighter fitting at the hips, thighs and ankles. Over this, one might wear a collarless or mandarin-collar tunic called a kurta. |
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