Lambanis' traditional dressing fast disappearing

I read this article about the Lambani community's dressing written by one Lakshman Badami in Deccan Herald. It made an interesting observation how everyone is shifting from identity clothing to convenience attire. Though there is a certain loss to the world in terms of traditional culture and dressing, but one thing comes to light in this is that more and more people are interested in dressing themselves in attire they find it easy to carry and comfortable to wear. Though tradition might dictate otherwise.

Here is an excerpt of the article and the picture published thereon:

With young women of the Lambani community no longer interested in attiring themselves in their traditional costumes, there is a widespread fear that their interesting dress culture will be lost forever.

Heaps of eye-catching earrings made of sparkling pieces of mirror, cowrie shells and old silver coins, attractive anklets, necklaces and plastic strip bangles were all laid out in an inviting manner for customers to take their pick.

Putting together a Lambani costume is no joke. A lot of patience and effort is needed to piece together colourful pieces of cloth and embroider them with mirrors, aluminium buttons, coins, cowrie shells, beads, chains, bells and such other embellishments.

But nobody seems to wat to buy them. With no market an growing number of women are taking up alternative vocations and this tradition of creating traditional Lambani clothes is getting lost.

It is sad but true. Young women of the Lambani community wish to be in tune with the times as far as their dress habits are concerned. They feel their traditional dresses are for the older generation only. They even say they are embarrassed to wear their colourful costumes.

While the older generation of the community sticks to the traditional manner of dressing and the younger generation has taken to modern methods of dressing, the middle aged have chosen the middle path and still wear their traditional dress, but with minor modifications. Though there is nothing wrong in the younger generation wishing to join the mainstream by dressing up like the rest of their age, they should not hesitate to wear their traditional costume is the general idea among members of the community.

Wish these young women wear their traditional dresses at least on certain special occasions like weddings and festivals. If not, an interesting and colourful dress culture will be lost forever, making an occasional appearance only in fashion shows of the future.

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