Dressing Patterns, Costumes, Jewellery and Embroidery Work of the Banjara Community: An Empirical Study

Publication Details

Publication Date

10/09/2026

Volume / Issue

Vol 1, Issue 4 (2026)

Article No.

015

Journal

British Journal of Contemporary Research

DOI

https://doi.org/10.67693/BJCR-PBZFHZFF

Received

10 Aug 2026

Views

7

Downloads

0

Abstract

The Banjara community, also called Lambani, Lambada, Sugali, and other names in different regions, has one of India's most distinctive traditions of dress, ornamentation, and embroidery. Banjara women's clothing stands out for its bright colours, mirror work, appliqué, geometric patterns, cowrie shells, beads, coins and detailed jewellery. These traditions are more than decoration; they show identity, social status, marital status, cultural memory and community ties. This study examines dressing patterns, traditional costumes, jewellery, and embroidery among 140 Banjara respondents. It examines the ongoing use of traditional dress, changes in everyday clothing, preferences for modern styles, the use of traditional jewellery, and the passing down of embroidery skills. The results show that traditional costumes remain important for festivals, weddings, and community events, but are worn less often in daily life, especially by younger people. Embroidery remains culturally meaningful but faces challenges from commercialisation, changing lifestyles, the time required for handwork, and reduced intergenerational skill transfer. The strongest statistical result is for preference for modern fashion (χ² = 49.643, p < .001), followed by loss of traditional designs (χ² = 44.357, p < .001) and costume changes linked to modernisation (χ² = 39.286, p < .001). The study suggests that Banjara dress and embroidery are living cultural heritage and could support women's livelihoods, cultural tourism and craft-based businesses.

License

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . Free to read, share, and adapt with attribution.