Pheran: The Traditional Kashmiri Dress for Ladies

• The absolute most famous and iconic traditional dress for Kashmiri women (and men) is the Pheran.
• What is it?: It is a massive, loose-fitting, heavy woolen cloak or gown that falls below the knees.
• Why is it loose?: The Pheran is deliberately stitched to be massively wide and baggy so that during the freezing winter, women can easily carry a 'Kangri' (a small earthen pot filled with burning hot coals) inside the Pheran to keep their bodies physically warm.

• A woman's Pheran is not just plain cloth; it is a massive canvas for art.
• The necklines, massive cuffs, and bottom borders are heavily decorated with highly intricate, hand-stitched embroidery.
• Tilla Work: The most expensive Pherans use 'Tilla' work, where actual massive gold or silver threads are stitched into the fabric, creating a shiny, incredibly royal look, mostly worn during massive weddings.

A traditional Kashmiri woman's dress is completely incomplete without the massive headgear:

• Taranga: Traditionally worn by Hindu Pandit women. It is a highly bright, tightly tied cap that covers the head, with a massive piece of cloth falling towards the back.
• Kasaba: Traditionally worn by Muslim women. It is a massive, red, turban-like crown heavily pinned to the head, heavily decorated with massive silver jewelry and trinkets. (Today, most women use a highly beautifully embroidered massive scarf or Hijab).

To complete the massive look, Kashmiri ladies wear heavily oxidized silver jewelry. The most iconic piece is the Dejihoor—massive, heavy gold or silver ornaments that hang down from a married Pandit woman's upper ear cartilage.