Women in Ghagra Choli ca 1872.

Gagra choli or Ghagra choli, which is also known as Lehenga choli, is the traditional clothing of women in Rajasthan^[1][2] and Gujarat.^[3] Chaniya choli is another term commonly used to refer it.^[4] It is a combination outfit of a Lehenga, tight Choli and a Dupatta.

Choli[link]

A choli (Hindi: चोली), (ravike in South India Telugu: రవికె, Kannada: ರವಿಕೆ) is a midriff-baring blouse shell garment in the Indian sari costume worn in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and other countries where the sari is worn.It is also part of the ghagra choli costume of India.The choli is cut to fit tightly to the body and has short sleeves and a low neck. The choli is usually cropped, allowing exposure of the navel; the cropped design is particularly well-suited for wear in the hot South Asian summers. Cut-out backs and front-opening buttons are some of the features of contemporary designs.^[5]

Lehenga[link]

Illustration of different regional variations of Ghagra choli worn by women in South Asia.

Lehenga or Ghagra^[6] is a form of skirt which is long, embroidered and pleated. It is worn as the bottom portion of a Gagra choli. It is secured at the waist and leaves the lower back and midriff bare.^[7] It was introduced by the Mughals.^[8]

Fabrics[link]

The lehengas are made of a number of fabrics such as Silk, Cotton, Khadi,^[9] Georgette, Crape, Net, Satin, Brocade and Chiffon.^[10] Even though designers have successfully used the various kinds of fabrics for making the lehenga, silk is still the most preferred fabric.

Decorative Stitching[link]

Apart from the fabric, decorative stitching patterns also play a role. Lehengas come with a wide variety of decoration work like zari, zardozi, embroidery, diamante work, beads embroidery work, kundan work, mirror work, etc.^[11] For festivals like Navratri, the ethnic mirror-work embroidery is popular with a bit of patchwork. For formal wear and weddings, the embroidery is heavier in pearls, silk, sequins and zari.^[9]

Kutch embroidery is an evolving expression of the craft and textile traditions of the Rabaris, a nomadic tribe in Gujarat.Kutch work is unique in the sense that a net is woven on a cloth using thread.The net is then filled in using the same thread by intricate interlocking stitches. The patterns are usually built around geometric shapes.This embroidery follows its own traditional design logic and juxtaposition of colours and motifs.^[12] The Rohanas tribals of Kutch specialise in skirt work. The Sodhas use a geometric style for their embroidery. The Garacia Jats are experts in tiny embroidery on the yoke, which intermingles with red, orange, blue and green threads. The Dhanetah Jats love embroidering broad pear-shaped mirrors using orange, black, yellow and red in chain stitch.^[9]

Styles of Ghagra choli[link]

The ghagra cholis can be worn in different styles. Traditionally all lehengas used to have an more full cut but with changing trends in bridal fashion, now a days you get an array of options. Today lehengas are available in various cuts and styles to suit every body type.^[13][14] Following are some of the basic styles;

Picture	Style	Description
	A-line Lehenga	A-line lehengas are typical. They flow down in A-shape and are ideal for pear shaped brides.[15] It is suitable for women with broad hips.[16]
	Circular Lehenga	Circular lehenga, as the name suggests, is circular in shape.[15] This style has a large circumference along with lots of pleats near the waist. This adds volume looks very classy. This style will best suit thin brides. Flowy fabric with a good fall can be used to stitch this type of lehenga.[13] This style is the pick of those who yearn for exclusivity and elegance.[15]
	Fishtail/Mermaid Lehenga	Fishtail Lehenga sticks to your body from the waistline and flares down at the bottom, apt for the curvaceous and an hourglass frame. This sort is flawless for those who love to go glam. It is somewhat similar to the Hobble skirt of the Western Fashion.[15]
	Panelled Lehenga	Panelled lehenga, the best lehenga, offers the right amount of flare and a perfect fall.[15]This comprises of a number of panels sewn together. The panels can either be of the same fabric or colour or a combination of fabrics with contrasting colours.[13]
	Straight Cut Lehenga	Straight cut lehenga is the customary style of Bridal Lehenga. It flows down in a parallel manner and fits every shape and body type. With straight cut and tapered Lehenga, it is advisable to have soft fabrics rather than stiffer fabrics.[15] It creates an illusionary slimming effect.[13]

A Rajput bride wearing a pink lehenga.

Festive Attire[link]

The lehenga choli is the favourite female apparel worn during festivals, weddings or special events in India. This is due to traditions as well as of the fact that it is available in a number of fabrics with many different decorative choices.^[17] Traditionally the sari and the lehenga choli are the most popular garments for the bride in India.^[18] But it is a common bridal attire mostly in North India.^[19]

Femina Miss India 2011 Contestants in low-rise ghagra cholis.

Modern Fashion[link]

Due to modern fashion trends, lehenga cholis have now become a fashion statement. The cholis has become shorter and is sometimes substituted with Western crop top, halter neck or baby doll tops.^[20][21] Most designers juxtapose the old styles of draping and cut with daring flashes of their own creativity to create the modern day ghagra choli. This exotic dress is also very popular in places like Sydney, Toronto and Johannesburg.^[9] Along with saris, low-rise navel revealing ghaghra cholis have emerged. Designer Manish Malhotra's Fashion Week collections regularly highlight low waisted ghaghras accompanied by short cholis. Such ghagra cholis are more commonly worn by the Bollywood celebrities.For example, Actress Priyanka Chopra was featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by designer Ritu Kumar on the opening show of the HDIL India Couture Week 2008 held in Mumbai.^[22][23][24] At the Blenders Pride Fashion Tour 2011, she was featured in a low rise ghagra choli designed by Neeta Lulla.^[25] Recently in the Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2011 event,all the finalists walked the ramp in modern white low-rise ghagra cholis.^[26]

Celebrities in Ghagra Cholis[link]

Film actresses[link]

• 

  Anjana Sukhani at Lakme Fashion Week.

• 

  Shriya Saran at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2010.

• 

  Sameera Reddy at the Lakme Fashion Week 2009.

• 

  Soha Ali Khan at Beti Gitanjali's show at IIJW 2011.

• 

  Raima Sen at Geetanjali Luxury Style Festival 2007.

• 

  Amisha Patel walks for Rocky S at Aamby Valley City India Bridal Week 2011.

• 

  Yuvika Chaudhary in Sabbah Khan Show at Lakme Fashion Week 2011.

• 

  Geeta Basra on day 1 of Lakme Fashion Week 2011.

• 

  Raageshwari at The Indian princess Finale at Chitrakoot, Andheri, Mumbai.

• 

  Mugdha Godse at HDIL Invitation cup awards 2011 night at Race Course.

• 

  Bruna Abdullah at Anmol jewellers 25th anniversary bash at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai.

• 

  Parvathy Omanakuttan at SNDT Chrysalis 2012 fashion show

• 

  Angela Jonsson at Anmol jewellers 25th anniversary bash at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai

• 

  Sofia Hayat at Lakme fashion Week 2011 Day 4.

Television actresses[link]

• 

  Hindi television actress Ragini Khanna at Star Parivaar Awards Promo Shoot in Mumbai.

• 

  Deepshikha at Manish Malhotra - Lilavati Save & Empower Girl Child show.

• 

  Television actress Hina Khan at Star Parivaar Awards promo shoot.

• 

  Pooja Gaur at Star Parivaar Awards promo shoot.

Item Numbers[link]

Item numbers have found its place in Bollywood from the early 1950s.It required revealing clothes for the dancing female to look attractive.But the ghagra choli being worn for an item number became popular due to Madhuri Dixit's performance in the film Khalnayak(1993) for the controversial song "Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai" in a red ghagra choli.^[27][28] After which many number of Bollywood item numbers had featured the female dancer in a ghagra choli outfit.^[29] Of which the most famous are the ones performed by actress Malaika Arora Khan. She featured in revealing ghagra cholis for the hit songs "Chaiyya Chaiyya" in Dil Se.. (1998)^[30] and "Munni Badnaam Hui" in Dabangg (2010).^[31] Even today most of Bollywood's item numbers feature revealing ghagra cholis.^[32][33]

See also[link]

• Lehenga Style Saree

References[link]

This article uses bare URLs for citations. Please consider adding full citations so that the article remains verifiable. Several templates and the Reflinks tool are available to assist in formatting. (Reflinks documentation) (April 2012)

External links[link]

• Information on Ghagra choli

Mini Mathur
Mini mathur at Manish Malhotra - Lilavati Save & Empower Girl Child show, 2012
Born	21st August 1975 Mumbai, India
Spouse	Kabir Khan (director)

Mini Mathur is an Indian actress and television personality.^[1][2] She was a video jockey on MTV India and hosted a couple of shows for the channel. She is also a co-host of the Indian reality singing contest Indian Idol.^[3]

Mini Mathur currently hosts Bombay Blush, a culture show on India that airs on BBC in the UK. She resides in Mumbai with her husband Kabir Khan, son Vivian and a daughter Sairah.^[4][5][6] She is currently hosting a sports quiz show on Doordarshan named, Sports ka Superstar.

She holds a degree in Business Management from Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, India.

Filmography[link]

• Khwahish (Actress)
• Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa (Contestant)
• A Nation Celebrates (Producer)
• From Corner Shops to Lords (Producer)
• Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao (Host)
• Indian Idol (Host)
• Bombay Blush (Host)
• Sports ka Superstar (Host)
• Kaun Banega Crorepati (expert who gives advice)
• survivor season-1 (Contestant)

Films[link]

^[7]

• I, Me Aur Main (27 Jul 2012) (Coming Soon)
• Mere Brother Ki Dulhan (9 Sep 2011)
• Dil Vil Pyar Vyar (18 Oct 2002)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Mini Mathur at the Internet Movie Database