An ''angavastra'' (plural, ''angavastram'', ) is a shoulder cloth or stole worn by men in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, especially in

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

and

South India South India, also known as Southern India or Peninsular India, is the southern part of the Deccan Peninsula in India encompassing the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana as well as the union territories of ...

. It is a single, rectangular piece of fabric and may have decorated borders. An angavastra may be worn with a

dhoti The dhoti is an ankle-length breechcloth, wrapped around the waist and the legs, in resemblance to the shape of trousers. The dhoti is a garment of ethnic wear for men in the Indian subcontinent. The dhoti is fashioned out of a rectangular p ...

and

kurta A ''kurta'' is a loose collarless shirt or tunic worn in many regions of South Asia, (subscription required) Quote: "A loose shirt or tunic worn by men and women." Quote: "Kurta: a loose shirt without a collar, worn by women and men from South ...

. An angavastra may be offered as a mark of respect to guests, elders and

gurus Guru ( ; IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan- Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: traditionally, the guru is a reverential figure to the disciple (or '' ...

Style and use

Angavastra is a simple loose garment, usually paired or matching with dhoti color, draped over the shoulders. It is a traditional wear of South India and a profound fashion statement. Prime Minister

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...

wore ''karai veshti''

, and angavastram, the traditional attire during his visit to Arjuna's Penance, Krishna's Butterball, the Pancha Rathas, and

Shore Temple The Shore Temple (c. 725 AD) is a complex of temples and shrines that overlooks the shore of the Bay of Bengal. It is located in Mahabalipuram, about south of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, India. It is a structural temple, built with blocks of gran ...

. A weaver from

Varanasi Varanasi (, also Benares, Banaras ) or Kashi, is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world.* * * * The city has a syncretic tradition of I ...

designed and wove a special

silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

angavastram incorporating Buddhist mantras for Narendra Modi.

History

The angavastram, a traditional garment worn by men in parts of South India and Maharashtra, has a long history rooted in Indian culture. This unstitched, rectangular piece of fabric is draped over the torso and shoulder, serving practical and symbolic purposes. The origins of the angavastram can be traced back to ancient times. It is believed to have evolved from the

uttariya An uttariya () is a loose piece of upper body clothing with its origins in ancient India. It is a single piece of cloth that falls from the back of the neck to curl around both arms and could also drape the top half of the body. An uttariya is si ...

, a similar garment worn around the shoulders or waist, as evidenced by sculptures found at historical sites such as Sanchi and Amaravati. The word "angavastram" is derived from

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

, meaning "cloth for the body," reflecting its fundamental purpose. Historically, the angavastram was typically made of handspun cotton yarn, crafted using simple machinery. With the industrialization of the textile industry, production methods evolved. While cotton remains popular for everyday wear, silk angavastrams are often used for religious and formal occasions. The use of raw matka silk is particularly preferred for religious leaders and practitioners. In recent years, the angavastram has gained recognition beyond its traditional contexts. Some educational institutions in India have adopted it as part of their convocation attire, replacing colonial-era black robes. For example, in 2023, the

University of Delhi The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...

announced its decision to use angavastrams for its 99th convocation ceremony, citing a desire to move away from colonial influences. Despite its long history, the basic design and purpose of the angavastram have remained largely unchanged. It continues to be an important symbol of Indian culture, representing both tradition and practicality in modern times.

References

Hindu religious clothing Indian clothing Indian clothing by state or union territory {{clothing-stub