https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Mekhela_sadorMekhela sador - Revision history2026-10-31T18:02:15ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mekhela_sador&diff=517359&oldid=prevRethaT8259798 at 00:01, 4 February 20262026-02-04T00:01:02Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Traditional Assamese attire}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}<br />
[[File:DWIJEN (43).jpg|thumb|right|250px|A girl wearing mekhela sador dress]]<br />
[[File:Mekhela Chador with Kaziranga Paari.jpg|thumb|right|250px|On display, a hand-woven mekhela chador in [[Assam silk#Pat silk|pat silk]] depicting an exquisite pattern of wildlife in [[Kaziranga National Park|Kaziranga]]]] '''Mekhela sador''' is traditional clothing worn by women from [[Assam]].<ref> Sharma, M. B. (2005). Silk Mekhela Chador–A traditional dress of Assamese women. Indian Silk, 44(5), 26-29.</ref><ref> Brahmachary, S. (2016). IMPERIALISTIC ASSAM: AN ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL IMPERIALISM IN ASSAM. Regional Cooperation Newsletter-South Asia July-September, 2016, 10.</ref> It is a two-piece outfit, consisting of the mekhela (a cylindrical skirt) and the sador (a drape), and is generally made from [[Assam silk]] such as [[Muga silk|muga]], [[Eri silk|eri]] or [[pat silk]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-23 |title=What Is Mekhela Chador And Why Is It More Popular In Assam? |url=https://www.mohifashion.com/en-int/blogs/news/what-is-mekhela-chador-and-why-is-it-more-popular-in-assam |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=Mohi fashion |language=en}}</ref> <br />
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It is adorned with intricate designs, patterns, and motifs, often inspired by nature, Assamese culture, or mythological themes. The designs are predominantly handwoven by women. Common motifs include floral patterns, geometric shapes, and representations of local wildlife, which celebrate the region's natural beauty.<ref> {{Cite web |title=Mekhela Chador: The Elegant Tapestry Of Assam's Heritage |url=https://www.ndtv.com/shopping/mekhela-chador-the-elegant-tapestry-of-assams-heritage-6070404?utm_source=perplexity |access-date=2024-10-25 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><br />
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==Draping==<br />
The bottom portion, draped from the waist downwards, is called the mekhela. It is a wide cylindrical piece cloth that is folded into one or two pleats to fit around the waist and tucked in. The pleats are folded to the right and are typically fewer in number as opposed to the pleats of [[Saree]], which are generally folded to the left and have multiple pleats. Strings are never used to tie the mekhela around the waist, though an underskirt with a string is often used. <br />
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The top portion of the two-piece dress, called the chador (pronounced: Sador), is a long piece of cloth that has one end tucked into the upper portion of the mekhela above the belly button and the rest is draped around the chest and back. The other end of the chador is tucked in the belly after making a few pleats. A fitted blouse is often worn with Mekhela chador. Traditionally, in the past, another garment called [[:en:Riha (garment)|'''riha''']] was worn as a chador or as an inner piece below the chador. A riha is still worn as part of the Assamese bridal trousseau and sometimes seen people wearing in indigenous traditional events like [[Bihu]] and other Assamese festivals.<br />
Ornamental designs on the mekhela-chadors are traditionally woven, never printed. Sometimes a woven pattern called the ''paari'', is stitched along the sides of a chador, or along the bottom of a mekhela. The patterns include motifs of animals, birds, human forms, flowers, diamond, and celestial phenomenon. These indigenous patterns are woven by tribal and nontribal Weavers. The motifs are known as ''phul''. The bright-hued diamond motifs representing fine workmanship is a typical and traditional feature of the textiles of Assam. In Pat and Muga silk, delicate designs of flowers and creepers while bold motifs of geometric shapes are typically found in Eri and Cotton.<ref>Chakravorty, R., Dutta, P., & Ghose, J. (2010). Sericulture and traditional craft of silk weaving in Assam.[http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/8166/1/IJTK%209(2)%20378-385.pdf?trk=right_banner&id=1416585687&ref=84469fc7a8cae868ab19cd6718aa70ed|title=Sericulture and Traditional Craft of Silk Weaving in Assam]</ref><br />
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==Material==<br />
Traditional mekhela chadors are made from the following materials:<br />
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* [[Muga silk|Muga]]<br />
* [[Pat silk]]<br />
* [[Eri silk]]<br />
Some modern low-budget sets are also made with varying blends of [[cotton]] and muga or pat silk with synthetic materials.<br />
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==Availability==<br />
The mekhela chador is available in many stores across [[Guwahati]] and other cities of [[Assam]]. They are also available through various websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unika.in/Mekhela-Chador-depid-99514-page-1.html |title=Mekhela Chador |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926190605/http://unika.in/Mekhela-Chador-depid-99514-page-1.html |archive-date=September 26, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://assamsilkshopping.com/Mekhela-Chadar|title = Mekhela Chador|publisher = Assam Silk Shopping|access-date = April 5, 2015|archive-date = 5 April 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150405031646/http://assamsilkshopping.com/Mekhela-Chadar|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.rajmatisarees.com/mekhla-chadar|title = Mekhela Chador|publisher = Rajmati Sarees|access-date = April 5, 2015|archive-date = 5 April 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041951/http://www.rajmatisarees.com/mekhla-chadar|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.bazaarsurat.com/product-category/mekhela-chadars|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130309005225/http://www.bazaarsurat.com/product-category/mekhela-chadars|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2013-03-09|title = Mekhela Chador|publisher = Sri Sai Tex Art|access-date = April 5, 2015}}</ref><br />
The demand for pure pat is very high among customers. Mekhela Chador of Pat and polyester are dominating the market. But the demand of Muga, ‘golden silk of Assam' is low due to its high price and availability of substitutes like tassar which look very similar to the original Muga silk.<ref> Aggarwal, A., Sharma, A., Tripathi, A., Wadhawan, A., Chongtham, E., Gupta, H., ... & Bhardwaj, R. Static or Dynamic-The Analysis of Handloom Industry of Assam.</ref><br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120404010956/http://www.fashionfundas.com/resources/3870-How-Wear-Assamese-Mekhala-Chadar.aspx How to wear a Mekhala Chadar: The traditional Assamese attire]<br />
* {{cite video| people =Rhitupon Bora and Tamina Das| year =2011| title =Silk Weaving Tradition of Sualkuchi, Assam| url =http://www.dsource.in/resource/assam-silk/videos/video4.html| publisher =D'Source, IIT Guwahati.| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121015204822/http://www.dsource.in/resource/assam-silk/videos/video4.html| archive-date =2012-10-15| url-status =dead}}<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/mekhla-chador-and-the-global-fashion-industry Mekhla Chador and the Global Fashion Industry]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/mekhla-chador-as-a-symbol-of-women-empowerment Mekhla Chador as a Symbol of Women Empowerment]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/the-role-of-mekhla-chador-in-assamese-festivals The Role of Mekhla Chador in Assamese Festivals]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/mekhla-chador-and-sustainable-fashion Mekhla Chador and Sustainable Fashion]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/mekhla-chador-in-contemporary-fashion Mekhla Chador in Contemporary Fashion]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/the-art-of-mekhla-chador-weaving The Art of Mekhla Chador Weaving]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/the-significance-of-mekhla-chador-in-assamese-culture The Significance of Mekhla Chador in Assamese Culture]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/how-to-drape-a-mekhla-chador How to Drape a Mekhla Chador]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/the-different-types-of-mekhla-chador The Different Types of Mekhla Chador]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/mekhla-chador-for-different-occasions Mekhla Chador for Different Occasions]<br />
* [https://www.chadorkart.com/blogs/blogs/the-history-and-evolution-of-mekhla-chador-a-testament-to-assams-cultural-heritage The History and Evolution of Mekhla Chador]<br />
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==See also==<br />
{{Commons category|Mekhela chador}}<br />
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*[[Riha (garment)|Riha]]<br />
*[[Assam silk|Muga]]<br />
*[[Pathin]]<br />
*[[Textiles and dresses of Assam]]<br />
*[[Textile manufacturing terminology]]<br />
*[[Culture of Assam]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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{{Clothing in South Asia}}<br />
{{Assam}}<br />
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[[Category:Indian clothing]]<br />
[[Category:Textiles and clothing of Assam]]<br />
[[Category:Dresses]]</div>RethaT8259798