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The impact of the odhani like the sari comes not just from the beauty of the textile, but also from the way it is draped. Traditionally different coloured odhanis were worn during different festive days such as Holi, Teej, and Diwali.
Fanny Parkes’ description of the odhani from a zenana in the early 19th century is captivating. It describes groups of women gathered in the zenana, all elegantly draped in shimmering, richly decorated cloth-
“The deputtah is a useful envelope, and the most graceful part of the whole female costume... on gala days, gold ano silver and gauze tissues are in great request, as is also the fine Indian muslin manufactured at Decca - transparent and soft as the web of the gossamer spider; this is called shabnam (night dew) from its delicate texture and is procured at great expense, even in India. Some deputtahs are formed of gold-worked muslin, English crape, coloured gauze, etc.
On ordinary occasions ladies wear them simply bound with silver riband, but for dress, they are richly trimmed with embroidery and bullion fringes which add much to the splendour of the scene, when two or three hundred females are collected together in an assembly.
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Posted On: 15 Nov 2024 8:35 PM
