Khetpartug (, ''khət paṛtūg'') ''khat partoog'', is a type of

Pashtun Pashtuns (, , ; ;), also known as Pakhtuns, or Pathans, are an Iranic ethnic group primarily residing in southern and eastern Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. They were historically also referred to as Afghans until 1964 after the ...

clothing worn in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

Origin

Khet partug traces its history back to the Kushan and The Parthian nobility, It is said that clans of the Parthians named Karl and Serb, likely The Pashtun Confederacies of

Karlani Karlāṇī or Karrani () is a Pashtun tribal confederacy. They primarily inhabit the FATA region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan and certain parts of eastern Afghanistan. In the 16th century the Karlani founded the Karrani dynasty, th ...

and

Sarbani The Saṛbanī () or Sarban Confederacy are a tribal group of Pashtuns. They are situated in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Sarbani include many Pashtun tribes, including Yusufzai, Mandanr, Utmanzai, Sherani, Tareen, Loni, Durrani (Abdali ...

wore this type of tunic and baggy pants. Kushans also wore similar clothing. It is likely that Pashtuns have always worn the khet partug in one design or another. Khet partug is the ancestor of the men's shalwar kameez worn in

and

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

and is likely also the ancestor of the sherwani wedding dresses worn 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 ...

, since the name sherwani derives from sarwani, which is itself mispronounced from

sarbani The Saṛbanī () or Sarban Confederacy are a tribal group of Pashtuns. They are situated in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Sarbani include many Pashtun tribes, including Yusufzai, Mandanr, Utmanzai, Sherani, Tareen, Loni, Durrani (Abdali ...

Design

Khet

The ''khet'' is the upper garment which is loose and slightly tightened at the waist and is more like a tunic or a robe, similar to a smock with wide sleeves and reaching below the knees. The khet does not traditionally have side slits, and is worn with a belt at the waist.

Partug

The ''partug'' is the lower garment which is very loose and full of pleats, with folds all around the waist and made of yards of material. ''Khet partug'' is also similar to the costume worn by men dancing the

attan ''Attan'' (), the national dance of Afghanistan, is a traditional dance originating from the tribal Pashtun regions. The dance is performed during weddings or other celebrations (engagements, weddings and informal gatherings). The Attan was also ...

Photo gallery

File:A Loyal Afghan WDL11457.png, Traditional ''khet partug'' (traditional loose

Peshawar Peshawar is the capital and List of cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by population, largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is the sixth most populous city of Pakistan, with a district p ...

i shalwar) (1842) File:Khattak Dance.jpg,

Khattak dance The ''Khattak'' (Pashto: خټک اتڼ , ''Khattak attan'') is a swift martial ''attan'' dance usually performed while carrying a sword and a handkerchief (while not always are they holding a sword and handkerchief) by the tribesmen from the ag ...

r wearing ''khet partug'' File:The main street in the bazaar at Caubul.jpg, The main street in the bazaar at Caubul; men wearing ''khet partug'' (1842) File:Afghan royal soldiers of the Durrani Empire.jpg, Durrani chieftains wearing ''khet partug''

References