What if I blend the art and culture of West Bengal with Ladakh? (Essay/800 words)
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Answer:
Ladakh is no different; the snow-capped mountains, treacherous terrains and cold deserts hint at freezing winters with temperatures often touching minus 30°C.
The traditional livestock rearing has enabled people of Ladakh to protect themselves and their loved ones from harsh winters. The sheep, goats and yaks not only provide for their food but also clothing. People weave high quality thermals, shawls, caps and socks from the wool and pashmina produce. In fact, the woollen clothes and pashmina shawls of Ladakh are famed across the world for their uniqueness of warmth, suppleness and feel-on-the-skin of the wearer.
Ladakh has been a cosmopolitan region, since its Silk Route days. Consequently, we have a blend of dresses, attires, beauty gears from different communities and tribes. To have a sneak peek at them, follow us through the post.
Speaking of attires of Ladakh, people wear a thick woollen robe called Goncha (the traditional gown) with accessories such as Tipi (hat), Lokpa (a thick cloak worn by only women that provides extra warmth), Bok, shawl or Tsa-zar for men. Goncha or Kos or Sulma are the main dress worn by all the communities in Ladakh by both the sexes, accompanied with a colourful sash tied around their waist. The women’s robe, however, flares downwards with small pleats accentuating it into a flowy gown.
Ladakh is divided in terms of geographic directions, East, West, North and South (Shar, Lo, Nub, Chang). To the east near the Chinese border lies Changthang, a high plateau home to nomads called Changpa. They have a different tradition, costumes and dialect with Tibetan influence. The most prominent sight of Changpa clothing is their whitish thick robe called the Lawa Goncha or Kos Kar. Considering their pastoral life style and climatic conditions, Kos Kar is exceptionally warm and rugged. They are made of sheep wool and skin turned upside down. Similarly, their robust shoes, handmade of animal skin and felts protect the Changpas from chilling cold, treacherous terrains, while assisting them walk on cold deserts of the eastern highlands.
Yogar or Lokpa is another distinctive garb worn only by women around shoulders to cover their backs. It’s a peculiar wardrobe that you would love to know about. The cloak is made of sheepskin with the woollen part facing inside touching the body of the wearer, while outside it’s usually printed or covered with a green fabric, accented with patterns of red or silk brocade to look appealing. Yogar is designed to provide the wearer warmth and cushioning for their backs while carrying heavy loads during their chores. In the olden days, Yogar was a necessity for women. However, today, they are been used as accessories during festivals and public gatherings such as marriages, child birth celebrations and so on. The designed and beautified Yogor or Lokpa is called Bok.