ABOUT

Daura Suruwal is Nepali traditional dress for men, which Kalpana Adhikari got as a gift from her parents for her son when he was 6 months old on his rice feeding ceremony. This two-piece garment is made of cotton and silk with a complicated design surface, all made by hand. The 3 color combination makes this object unique: red, blue and yellow. The embroidery gives this object a gorgeous look. Nepali citizens wear this clothing to their formal occasions. The owner of this garment has a personal connection with this item because she is living in the USA and this piece of art reminds her of her culture and heritage. The Daura is a variant of the kurta and is the upper garment. The Suruwal is the trousers. Typically, this dress is called “Labeda Suruwal”. The design of the Dura is identified with Buddhist religious beliefs through eight tanas (strings) on it. Four are tied around the upper chest near the shoulder and four are around the near waist. Its pattern and construction are similar to that of a churidar pajama, the waist tapering down toward the ankles. Dura has five plates or Kallis signifying pancha Buddha or pancha Ratna and the bottom piece has one tana or tie like a belt of the pants. Dura Suruwal has a long history; however, there are no exact facts about the date regarding the original creation of this garment. It was expensive dress in the past — only royal family could afford it — although nowadays in Nepal almost everyone can buy this type of clothing and wear it. There are many mass-produced clothes in a mall, but still Nepali people like to wear this to respect their heritage. Moreover, many Nepali people who live outside of Nepal wear this during their cultural festivals.

—Sabir Ahamed

ORIGIN
Nepal

APPROXIMATE DATE
2020

MATERIALS
Cotton, Silk

COLLECTION OF
Kalpana Adhikari

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