 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gamcha" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
.jpg)
Gamcha (orGamchhā,Gāmchhā,Gāmuchhā (Odia),Gamusā (Assamese) andAngochha) is a rectangular piece of traditional coarse cotton cloth, sometimes with achecked design, worn as traditional scarf by men in theIndian subcontinent, mainly inEastern India (includingAssam),Bangladesh, as well as in easternTerai ofNepal..[1] It also became bit popular in other cultures of India and now in what is known asPakistan after theIndian partition, as well as various parts of South and Southeast Asia. The word "Gamcha" isBengali/Assamese word which comes from two very simple and commonly usedBengali/Assamese words, (গা)ga which means "Body", and (মুছা)mucha which means "wipe". Literally translated, it means 'something to wipe the body with' however, interpreting the wordgamcha as the towel is misleading.[2] It is often worn on one side of the shoulder. Its appearance varies from region to region, and it has been traditionally worn as a scarf by theOdia men,Bhojpuriya men andBengali men. Gamcha is also a headwear forBengali men inBangladesh.[3] Gamucha was also mentioned inOdiaMahabharata bySarala Dasa as part of the traditional dress of Odia men.[4][5][6] Weavers of traditionaltantubaya orjugi community migrated from Bangladesh toTripura and weavers ofOdisha produce good quality gamucha.[7]
The gamcha is most commonly found withcheck and striped patterns of red, orange or green. Plain white gamchhas with coloured (embroidered or printed) borders fromOdisha andAssam (for traditionalAssamese Gamcha, seeGamosa) are local handicrafts, and may be worn around the neck with traditional Indian attire. In western areas, gamchas are primarily made in red colour and are plain like cloth. In southern India, gamucha is more coarse and are available in various dyes. Even homemade lightweight fur towels are also popularly termed as gamchhas. Gamucha are worn by the South Asian people, especially in the Indian states ofAssam, Bihar,Odisha, West Bengal,Jharkhand and thePurvanchal region, because they are better suited to the country'stropical, humid climate. They may also be found inhamams as a traditional male loincloth and towel worn during bathing and massage.
Assamese gamosa or Gamusa in Assam has a place of special use : it is given as a token of honour and respect to esteemed guest. In Bihu Dance male dancers wear it as a headscarf. The traditional Assamese dress is complete only when one wears a gamusa.
In Ahom King days, Ahom soldiers wife's used to weave a gamusa within a night and present it to her husband to ensure safety and victory.
Gamcha is also used sometimes as ahandkerchief or towel for personal use such as wiping the face.
Gamcha is also worn as knee longloin cloths by people of the poorer sections of society, especially menial labourers and farm workers. They are also used as a headscarf, similar to the Middle Easternkeffiyeh in rural areas.[8]
Gamchas can be turned into an effective weapon againstwolves,leopards,wild dogs orferal dogs or evendacoits, by knotting a large stone pebble into one end and using it likebolas.[citation needed]
Farmers were already using it in rural areas for various purposes, Gamcha became an alternativecloth face mask in rural India. TheWHO guidelines[9] for the necessary use of masks for protection fromCOVID increased its importance, and it became a choice of face masks by simply wearing on face. The need for this traditional piece of clothing has risen further since thePrime Minister of India made a television speech wearing Gamcha(a Manipuri gamcha, also known as Meitei Lengyan). It was trending since then in urban areas too.[10][11][12]
Gamcha is produced as a primary handloom product by traditional weavers. Presently the production of coarse handmade gamucha is slowing down inOdisha.[13] A 1,455.3 metre long Gamucha displayed in Delhi created world record as it became world's longest hand woven piece of cloth.[14]
tying it around the head as turban when necessary
