Glossary
- veiling
- See Figure 2 and ‘Terminology’ (in Section 1) for a description of different styles of veiling.
- mafta
- a term used in Kerala for a headscarf worn by Muslim women.
- pardah (purdah)
- From the Persian word for curtain, pardah refers to the practice of separating male and female space and to various forms of modest dress for women.
- salwaar (shalwaar) kameez
- This is a style of traditional dress worn by many Muslim women in South and Central Asia, though it is also worn by Hindu women in areas most affected by Muslim influence. ‘Salwaar’ refers to the trousers, and ‘kameez’ to the long shirt or tunic whose side seams are typically left open beyond the waistline. This style of dress is also worn by men; it may also be referred to as kurta-pajama. (For an example of a salwaar kameez, see Osella and Osella, 2007, p. 238, Figure 2.)
- sari
- This is a traditional garment worn by many Hindu women, but is also frequently worn by women of other religious groups from the Indian subcontinent. It consists of a long piece of cloth (of varying materials and colours) which is draped around the body in a number of different styles. It is now usually worn on top of a blouse or bodice and an underskirt.