>Qwerfjkl at 16:24, 17 September 2021

2021-09-17T16:24:43Z

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{{short description|A knee length jacket}}{{About|Hindu's garment|Muslim's garment|Sherwani}}[[File:Rajput Sherwani 2014-04-23 04-27.JPG|upright=1.3|thumbnail|Achkan worn by men in [[Rajasthan]], [[India]].]]
'''Achkan''' ({{lang-hi|अचकन}}) also known as ''Baghal bandi'' is a knee length jacket worn by men in the [[Indian subcontinent]] much like the [[Angarkha]].

==Etymology==
{{see also|Angarkha}}
The word achkan is derived from [[Angarkha]] ([[Sanskrit language|Sanskrit]]: अंगरक्षक, anga-rakshaka 'body protector').<ref>Zaira Mis, Marcel Mis (2001) Asian Costumes and Textiles: From the Bosphorus to Fujiama [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=V-wcAQAAIAAJ&q=angarkha++sanskrit&dq=angarkha++sanskrit&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCIQ6AEwAWoVChMIiIfj-e3dxgIVqhbbCh1dWgDU]</ref> The angarkha was worn in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, while the basic cut remained the same, styles and lengths varied from region to region.<ref>[https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=qYK1AAAAIAAJ&q=angarkha&dq=angarkha&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAWoVChMI9PzF2_jdxgIV6QfbCh0zwArh Kumar, Ritu (2006) Costumes and textiles of royal India]</ref>

==History==
[[File:Two Gold coins of Chandragupta II.jpg|thumb|[[Chandragupta II]] depicted with achkan on gold coinage, [[Gupta Empire]]]]
Greeks mention achkan and gown like dresses worn by men and women all the way during mauryan period, It can be distinguished from the [[Sherwani]] through various aspects, particularly the front opening. Achkan traditionally has side-opening tied with strings, this style of opening is known as ''baghal bandi'' but frontal opening were not uncommon, similar to [[Angarkha]]. While [[sherwani]] always has straight frontal opening, due to its function as outer-coat. Achkan, like [[Angarkha]] was traditionally worn with sash known as ''patka'', ''kamarband'' or ''dora'' wrapped around the waist to keep the entire costume in place. While [[sherwani]] was traditionally worn as decorative outer-coat for special occasions during medieval times. Achkan is always worn with either [[dhoti]] or [[churidar]]. Achkan is made from various fabrics for both formal and informal occasions, it features traditional embroidery like gota and badla. Today, achkan is commonly worn by the grooms during wedding ceremonies or other formal festive occasions in the Indian subcontinent.It was used by men.

There are various regional variations of achkan worn throughout the Indian subcontinent, and are known by regional names such as ''Daura'' in Nepal and Northeast India, ''Angi'' in Southern India and ''Chola'' or ''Cholu'' in Indian Himalayas.

In India, the achkan is generally worn for formal occasions in winter, especially by those from [[Rajasthan]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Delhi]], [[Jammu]], Uttar Pradesh and [[Hyderabad, Telangana|Hyderabad]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Nehru's style statement|url=http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|access-date=2021-03-09|archive-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701091856/http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Shifting Sands: Costume in Rajasthan|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1432&context=tsaconf}}</ref> The achkan sherwani is generally associated with the Hindus while the simple sherwani was historically favoured by Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|title=From Cool to Un-cool to Re-cool: Nehru and Mao tunics in the sixties and post-sixties West|url=https://www.academia.edu/14599317}}</ref> The two garments have significant similarities, though sherwanis typically are more flared at the hips and achkans are lengthier than simple sherwanis. The achkan later evolved into the [[Nehru Jacket]], which is popular in India.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nehru's style statement|url=http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|access-date=2021-03-09|archive-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701091856/http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|url-status=dead}}</ref><gallery widths="200" heights="200">
File:Nehru Roerich.jpg|[[Jawaharlal Nehru]] (left) wearing an achkan with churidar.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nehru's style statement|url=http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|access-date=2021-03-09|archive-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701091856/http://www.tehelka.com/2016/01/nehrus-style-statement/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
</gallery>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:SamudraguptaCoin.jpg|[[Samudragupta]] depicted with achkan, [[Gupta Empire]]
File:Great Emperor Kanishka - Greatest of Kushan Monarchs - Circa 1st Century CE - Mathura - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5837.JPG|Sculpture depicted with achkan, sash and outer coat, 1st century CE.
File:Great Emperor Kanishka - Greatest of Kushan Monarchs - Circa 1st Century CE - Mathura - Government Museum - Mathura 2013-02-23 5836.JPG|Sculpture depicted with achkan, sash and outer coat, 1st century CE.
File:Gaddi Couple 1940.jpg|A man dressed in achkan with dora or sash wrapped around the waist.
File:Exhibit in Craft Museum New Delhi-35.JPG|Display of various styles of achkan and [[Angarkha]] worn by men, Delhi textile museum.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Clothing in South Asia}}

[[Category:Pakistani clothing]]
[[Category:Punjabi clothing]]

{{Clothing-stub}}

Achkan - Revision history

>Qwerfjkl at 16:24, 17 September 2021