116-522: Gayatri Devi (born Princess Gayatri Devi of Cooch Behar ; 23 May 1919 − 29 July 2009) was the third Maharani consort of Jaipur from 1940 to 1949 through her marriage to Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II . Following her husband's signature for the Jaipur State to become part of the Union of India and her step-son's assumption of the title in 1970, she was known as Maharani Gayatri Devi, Rajmata of Jaipur . She
232-626: A 19th-century earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale. The palace shows the acceptance of the European idealism of the Koch kings and the fact that they had embraced European culture without denouncing their Indian heritage. Sagardighi is one of the "Great Ponds" in the heart of Cooch Behar, West Bengal. The name means an ocean-like pond, exaggerated given its great significance. As well as being popular with people, it attracts migratory birds each winter. It
348-721: A Polo match and on her tour of India. In 2019 an exhibition 'Maharani: ‘Remembering the Princess'" was held in Mumbai to celebrate the Maharani's Centennial year. In 2013 designer Sabyasachi made five limited edition saris presented at the Taj Mahal Palace in honour of Devi's enduring style icon status. She started two schools in Jaipur, Maharani Gayatri Devi Girls’ Public School established in 1943 and Maharaja Sawai Man Singh Vidyalaya, Jaipur which
464-473: A calamity and in a forest ". The same sentiment is more generically expressed in later Sanskrit literature. Śūdraka , the author of Mṛcchakatika set in fifth century BCE says that the Avagaunthaha was not used by women everyday and at every time. He says that a married lady was expected to put on a veil while moving in the public. This may indicate that it was not necessary for unmarried females to put on
580-477: A change of dress. Maharani Indira Devi of Cooch Behar popularised the chiffon sari. She was widowed early in life and followed the convention of abandoning her richly woven Baroda shalus in favour of the unadorned mourning white as per tradition. Characteristically, she transformed her " mourning " clothes into high fashion. She had saris woven in France to her personal specifications, in white chiffon, and introduced
696-536: A city. Being a popular tourism hub, Cooch Behar is well connected through railway with almost all parts of the country. Two stations serve the city. Cooch Behar Airport is a domestic airport located near the city. It handles daily flights from Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata . The nearest international airport is Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri , about 142 km (88 mi) from Cooch Behar. IndiGo , Vistara and Spice Jet are
812-481: A depth of 1,000 to 1,500 m (3,300 to 4,900 ft). The soil has low levels of nitrogen with moderate levels of potassium and phosphorus . Deficiencies of boron , zinc , calcium , magnesium , and sulphur are high. Cooch Behar is a flat region with a slight southeastern slope along which the main rivers of the district flow. Most highland areas are in the Sitalkuchi region, and most low-lying lands lie in
928-646: A hijab with her sari while in Parliament. Sari is the national attire for women in Bangladesh , Although Dhakai Jamdani (hand made sari) is worldwide known and most famous to all women who wear sari but there are also many variety of saris in Bangladesh. There are many regional variations of them in both silk and cotton. There are many regional variations of saris in both silk and cotton. e.g., Dhakai Banarasi sari , Rajshahi silk , Tangail sari , Tant sari , Tassar silk sari, Manipuri sari and Katan sari. The sari
1044-625: A legendary socialite. Early in her life, her uncle's death led to her father ascending the throne (gaddi). Gayatri studied at Glendower Preparatory School in London, Patha Bhavana of Visva-Bharati University , Shantiniketan , and later in Lausanne , Switzerland , where she travelled with her mother and siblings, then studied secretarial skills in London School of Secretaries; Brillantmont and Monkey Club London. She first met Sawai Man Singh II when she
1160-637: A meeting with Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri , Gayatri was again asked to join Congress. Despite the fact that her husband was being made ambassador to Spain , she stuck to her principles and decided not to join the party. In 1967 the Swatantra party joined hands with Jan Sangh that was led by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat . The alliance won a large number of seats in the 1967 election. In the assembly election Gayatri lost to Damodar Lal Vyas, in Malpura constituency, but won
1276-603: A part of the Kamata Kingdom . The Khens ruled until about 1498 CE , when they fell to Alauddin Hussain Shah , the independent Sultan of Gour . The new invaders fought with the local Bhuyan chieftains and the Ahom king Suhungmung and lost control of the region. During this time, the Koch tribe became very powerful, proclaimed itself Kamateshwar (Lord of Kamata), and established the Koch dynasty. The first important Koch ruler
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#17331063547041392-460: A popular garment among the middle and upper class for many formal functions. Saris can be seen worn commonly in metropolitan cities such as Karachi and Islamabad and are worn regularly for weddings and other business types of functions. Saris are also worn by many Muslim women in Sindh to show their status or to enhance their beauty. Phulkari , Kota doria , banarasi , Ajrak are the most worn. The sari
1508-726: A shirt/blouse and resemble a sarong , as seen in the Burmese longyi ( Burmese : လုံချည် ; MLCTS : lum hkyany ; IPA: [lòʊɰ̃dʑì] ), Filipino malong and tapis , Laotian xout lao ( Lao : ຊຸດລາວ ; IPA: [sut.láːw] ), Laotian and Thai suea pat ( Lao : ເສື້ອປັດ ; pronounced [sɯ̏a.pát] ) and sinh ( Lao : ສິ້ນ , IPA: [sȉn] ; Thai : ซิ่น , RTGS : sin , IPA: [sîn] ), Cambodian sbai ( Khmer : ស្បៃ ) and sampot ( Khmer : សំពត់ , saṃbát , IPA: [sɑmpʊət] ) and Timorese tais . Saris, worn predominantly in
1624-523: A single piece of clothing served as both lower garment and head covering, leaving the midriff completely uncovered. Similar styles of the sari are recorded paintings by Raja Ravi Varma in Kerala. Numerous sources say that everyday costume in ancient India until recent times in Kerala consisted of a pleated dhoti or ( sarong ) wrap, combined with a breast band called kūrpāsaka or stanapaṭṭa and occasionally
1740-484: A special blouse for the campaign trail which is longer than usual and is tucked in to prevent any midriff showing while waving to the crowds. Stylist Prasad Bidapa has to say, "I think Sonia Gandhi is the country's most stylish politician. But that's because she's inherited the best collection of saris from her mother-in-law. I'm also happy that she supports the Indian handloom industry with her selection." Most female MPs in
1856-469: A veil. This form of veiling by married women is still prevalent in Hindi-speaking areas, and is known as ghoonghat where the loose end of a sari is pulled over the head to act as a facial veil. Based on sculptures and paintings, tight bodices or cholis are believed to have evolved between the 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE in various regional styles. Early cholis were front covering tied at
1972-495: A wide vocabulary of terms for the veiling used by women, such as Avagunthana (oguntheti/oguṇthikā), meaning cloak-veil, Uttariya meaning shoulder-veil, Mukha-pata meaning face-veil and Sirovas-tra meaning head-veil. In the Pratimānātaka , a play by Bhāsa describes in context of Avagunthana veil that " ladies may be seen without any blame (for the parties concerned) in a religious session, in marriage festivities, during
2088-490: A wrap called uttarīya that could at times be used to cover the upper body or head. The two-piece Kerala mundum neryathum (mundu, a dhoti or sarong, neryath, a shawl, in Malayalam ) is a survival of ancient clothing styles. The one-piece sari in Kerala is derived from neighbouring Tamil Nadu or Deccan during medieval period based on its appearance on various temple murals in medieval Kerala. Early Sanskrit literature has
2204-462: Is a women's garment from the Indian subcontinent . It consists of an un-stitched stretch of woven fabric arranged over the body as a robe , with one end attached to the waist, while the other end rests over one shoulder as a stole , sometimes baring a part of the midriff . It may vary from 4.1 to 8.2 metres (4.5 to 9 yards) in length, and 60 to 120 centimetres (24 to 47 inches) in breadth, and
2320-517: Is a city and a municipality on the bank of River Torsa in the Indian state of West Bengal . It is the headquarters of the Cooch Behar district . It is in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas at 26°22′N 89°29′E / 26.367°N 89.483°E / 26.367; 89.483 . Cooch Behar is a planned city . Being one of the main tourist destinations of West Bengal, housing
2436-599: Is a co-educational school in memory of her husband. She revived and promoted the dying art of blue pottery . Gayatri Devi ran for Parliament in 1962 and won the constituency in the Lok Sabha , winning 192,909 votes out of 246,516 cast. She continued to hold this seat in 1967 and 1971 as a member of the Swatantra Party founded by C. Rajagopalachari , running against the Indian National Congress . In 1965, during
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#17331063547042552-581: Is a form of ethnic wear in Bangladesh , India , Sri Lanka , Nepal , and Pakistan . There are various names and styles of sari manufacture and draping, the most common being the Nivi style. The sari is worn with a fitted bodice also called a choli ( ravike or kuppasa in southern India, and cholo in Nepal) and a petticoat called ghagra , parkar , or ul-pavadai . It remains fashionable in
2668-416: Is a significant source of livelihood for the nearby rural populace, and it supplies the town with fruits and vegetables. Poorer sections of this semi-rural society are involved in transport, primary agriculture, small shops, and manual labour in construction. Cooch Behar has witnessed radical changes and rapid development in segments like industry, real estate, information technology firms, and education since
2784-500: Is called the pallu ; it is the part thrown over the shoulder in the nivi style of draping. In past times, saris were woven of silk or cotton. The rich could afford finely woven, diaphanous silk saris that, according to folklore , could be passed through a finger ring . The poor wore coarsely woven cotton saris. All saris were handwoven and represented a considerable investment of time or money. Simple hand-woven villagers' saris are often decorated with checks or stripes woven into
2900-600: Is collected every day by the municipality van from individual homes. The surface drains, mostly cemented, drain into the Torsa River. Electricity is supplied by the West Bengal State Electricity Board , and the West Bengal Fire Service provides emergency services like fire tenders. Most roads are metalled (macadam), and street lighting is available throughout the town. The Public Works Department
3016-541: Is embroidery done with coloured silk thread. Zardozi embroidery uses gold and silver thread, and sometimes pearls and precious stones . Cheap modern versions of zardozi use synthetic metallic thread and imitation stones, such as fake pearls and Swarovski crystals. In modern times, saris are increasingly woven on mechanical looms and made of artificial fibres, such as polyester , nylon, or rayon , which do not require starching or ironing . They are printed by machine, or woven in simple patterns made with floats across
3132-439: Is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with the loose end of the drape to be worn over the shoulder, baring the midriff. However, the sari can be draped in several different styles, though some styles do require a sari of a particular length or form. Ṛta Kapur Chishti , a sari historian and recognised textile scholar, has documented 108 ways of wearing a sari in her book, 'Saris: Tradition and Beyond'. The book documents
3248-632: Is in the Cooch Behar constituency and elects one member to the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament ). The town area is covered by one assembly constituency, Cooch Behar Dakshin, that elects one member to the Vidhan Sabha , which is the West Bengal state legislative assembly . Cooch Behar town comes under the jurisdiction of the district police (which is a part of the state police );
3364-557: Is known today known as dupatta and ghoonghat . Likewise, the stanapaṭṭa evolved into the choli by the 1st century CE. The ancient Sanskrit work Kadambari by Banabhatta and ancient Tamil poetry, such as the Silappadhikaram , describes women in exquisite drapery or sari. In ancient India, although women wore saris that bared the midriff, the Dharmasastra writers stated that women should be dressed such that
3480-963: Is one of the few colleges under the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University to offer postgraduate education. The college is in the heart of the town with a campus of 13.27 acres (53,700 m2) and a built-up area of 9032.96 sq. meters. 1981 the Maya Chitram Art Institute was founded in Cooch Behar. There is an agricultural university, Uttar Banga Krishi Vishwavidyalaya , 16 km from the town at Pundibari . A medical college named Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College and Hospital began instruction in 2019 with 100 students. Cooch Behar Government Engineering College started its first academic session in 2016. [REDACTED] Cooch Behar travel guide from Wikivoyage Sari A sari (sometimes also saree or sadi )
3596-422: Is popular form of traditional embroidery used on saris for formal occasions, various other types of traditional folk embroidery such mochi, pakko, kharak, suf, kathi, phulkari and gamthi are also commonly used for both informal and formal occasion. Today, modern fabrics like polyester, georgette and charmeuse are also commonly used. There are more than 80 recorded ways to wear a sari. The most common style
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3712-426: Is reserved as the dress of choice for important occasions and events. In 2013, the traditional art of weaving jamdani was declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity . In 2016, Bangladesh received geographical indication (GI) status for Jamdani sari. Sri Lankan women wear saris in many styles. Two ways of draping the sari are popular and tend to dominate: the Indian style (classic nivi drape) and
3828-466: Is responsible for road maintenance and the streets connecting Cooch Behar with other regional cities. Health services in Cooch Behar include a government-owned District Hospital, a Regional Cancer Centre, and private nursing homes. Utility services provided in Cooch Behar are considered one of the best government utility services in West Bengal. However, the city floods during heavy rain due to problems with
3944-466: Is responsible for the civic administration of the town. The municipality consists of a board of councillors, elected from each of the 20 wards and a few members nominated by the state government. The board of councillors elects a chairman from among its elected members; the chairman is the executive head of the municipality. The All India Trinamool Congress controls the municipality. The state government looks after education, health, and tourism. The town
4060-1015: Is surrounded by many important administrative buildings, like the District Magistrates Office, the Administrative Building of North Bengal State Transport Corporation , BSNL's DTO Office in the West; the Office of the Superintendent of Police, the District Library, the Municipality Building in the South, the Office of BLRO, the State Bank of India's Cooch Behar Main Branch and many others in the East,
4176-479: Is the most commonly worn women's clothing in Nepal where a special style of sari draping is called haku patasihh . The sari is draped around the waist and a shawl is worn covering the upper half of the sari, which is used in place of a pallu . In Pakistan, the saris are still popular and worn on special occasions. The Shalwar kameez , however, is worn throughout the country on a daily basis. The sari nevertheless remains
4292-501: Is the uniform of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Air India uniform for air hostesses . An air hostess-style sari is draped in similar manner to a traditional sari, but most of the pleats are pinned to keep them in place. Bangladeshi female newsreaders and anchors also drape their sari in this particular style. Saris are worn as uniforms by the female hotel staff of many five-star luxury hotels in India , Sri Lanka , and Bangladesh as
4408-486: Is the uniform of the air hostesses of SriLankan Airlines . During the 1960s, the mini sari known as 'hipster' sari created a wrinkle in Sri Lankan fashion, since it was worn below the navel and barely above the line of prosecution for indecent exposure. The conservative people described the 'hipster' as " an absolute travesty of a beautiful costume almost a desecration " and " a hideous and purposeless garment ". The sari
4524-1253: Is traditional form of embroidery used for cholis in this region. In Nepal, choli is known as cholo or chaubandi cholo and is traditionally tied at the front. Red is the most favoured colour for wedding saris , which are the traditional garment choice for brides in Hindu wedding . Women traditionally wore various types of regional handloom saris made of silk, cotton, ikkat, block-print, embroidery and tie-dye textiles. Most sought after brocade silk saris are Banasari, Kanchipuram (Sometimes also Kanchipuram or Kanjivaram ), Gadwal, Paithani, Mysore, Uppada, Bagalpuri, Balchuri, Maheshwari, Chanderi, Mekhela, Ghicha, Narayan pet and Eri etc. are traditionally worn for festive and formal occasions. Silk Ikat and cotton saris known as Patola, Pochampally, Bomkai, Khandua, Sambalpuri, Gadwal, Berhampuri, Bargarh, Jamdani, Tant, Mangalagiri, Guntur, Narayan pet, Chanderi, Maheshwari, Nuapatn, Tussar, Ilkal, Kotpad and Manipuri were worn for both festive and everyday attire. Tie-dyed and block-print saris known as Bandhani, Leheria/Leheriya, Bagru, Ajrakh, Sungudi, Kota Dabu/Dabu print, Bagh and Kalamkari were traditionally worn during monsoon season. Gota Patti
4640-424: Is worn across the right hip to over the left shoulder, partly baring the midriff. The navel can be revealed or concealed by the wearer by adjusting the pallu , depending on the social setting. The long end of the pallu hanging from the back of the shoulder is often intricately decorated. The pallu may be hanging freely, tucked in at the waist, used to cover the head, or used to cover the neck, by draping it across
4756-474: Is worn as daily wear by Pakistani Hindus , by elderly Muslim women who were used to wearing it in pre-partition India and by some of the new generation who have reintroduced the interest in saris. Black Sari Day, is a celebration of Iqbal Bano a woman who fought in a Black sari in Lahore against Zia. She sang Hum Dekhenge . Although this event is to bring family closer and to enjoy the day of Iqbal Bano. While
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4872-522: The Border Security Force (BSF) maintains a significant presence in the vicinity. This gives rise to a large population of semi-permanent residents, who bring revenue to the economy. The state government is trying to promote Cooch Behar as a tourist destination. Though income from tourism is low, Cooch Behar is one of the major tourist attractions in West Bengal. Every year during the Ras Purnima,
4988-573: The Cooch Behar Palace and Madan Mohan Temple, it has been declared a heritage city. It is the maternal home of Gayatri Devi , the consort of the ruler of the former Jaipur State . During the British Raj , Cooch Behar was the seat of the princely state of Koch Bihar , ruled by the Koch dynasty . On 20 August 1949, Cooch Behar District was transformed from a princely state to its present status, with
5104-649: The Gaekwad dynasty of the Marathas . Her paternal grandparents were Nripendra Narayan Bhup Bahadur and Sunity Devi of Cooch Behar. Maharani Sunity Devi was the daughter of the Brahmo social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen . She had two brothers, Jagaddipendra Narayan and Indrajitendra Narayan of whom Jagaddipendra Narayan became the Maharaja of Cooch Behar in his infancy after the death of their father in 1922. Thus, maternally, she
5220-535: The Pussycat Dolls – dressed in saris. in 2014, American singer Selena Gomez was seen in a sari for an UNICEF charity event at Nepal. In the United States , the sari has recently become politicised with the digital-movement, "Sari, Not Sorry". Tanya Rawal-Jindia , a gender studies professor at UC Riverside , initiated this anti- xenophobia fashion-campaign on Instagram. While an international image of
5336-519: The Superintendent of Police oversees security and matters about law and order. Cooch Behar is home to the District Court. Cooch Behar is a well-planned town, and the municipality is responsible for providing essential services such as potable water and sanitation . The city supplies water using its groundwater resources, and almost all the houses in the municipal area are connected. Solid waste
5452-526: The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education . Some of the reputed schools include Jenkins School , Sunity Academy , and Cooch Behar Rambhola High School . Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University is the only single university in Cooch Behar. It is a U.G.C. recognised public university in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India. The university was named after the 19th-century Rajbongshi leader and social reformist, Panchanan Barma . A total of 15 colleges from
5568-468: The cupola . This adds variegated colours and designs to the entire surface. There are various halls in the palace and rooms, including the Dressing Room, Bed Room, Drawing Room, Dining Hall, Billiard hall, Library, Toshakhana, Lady's Gallery, and Vestibules. The articles and precious objects that these rooms and halls used to contain are now lost. The original palace was three storied but was destroyed by
5684-408: The 6th century BCE. Ancient antariya closely resembled the dhoti wrap in the "fishtail" version which was passed through the legs, covered the legs loosely and then flowed into long, decorative pleats at front of the legs. It further evolved into Bhairnivasani skirt, today known as ghagri and lehenga . Uttariya was a shawl-like veil worn over the shoulder or head. It evolved into what
5800-635: The Bhutanese were expelled, Cooch Behar was reinstated as a princely state under the aegis of the British East India Company. Cooch Behar Palace is built after classical Italian architecture. The dome of the Palace is in Italian style, resembling the dome of St. Peter's Basilica , Vatican City, Rome. It had been built-in 1887, during the reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan . In 1878, the maharaja married
5916-644: The Cooch Behar district are affiliated with the university. There are five colleges and a polytechnic in town, including A.B.N. Seal College , Cooch Behar College , University B.T. & Evening College , Thakur Panchanan Mahila Mahavidyalaya , all of which are affiliated with the Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University , which was established in 2013. Cooch Behar Polytechnic established in 1964, one of oldest Polytechnic Institute in Coochbehar district. Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal College
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#17331063547046032-811: The Dinhata region. The elevation of the town is 48 meters above mean sea level. The Torsa river flows by the western side of town. The rivers in the district of Cooch Behar generally flow from northwest to southeast. Six rivers that cut through the district are the Teesta , Jaldhaka , Torsha , Kaljani , Raidak , Gadadhar, and Ghargharia. The town of Cooch Behar and its surrounding regions face deforestation due to increasing demand for fuel and timber, along with air pollution from increasing vehicular traffic. The local flora includes palms, bamboo, creepers, ferns, orchids, aquatic plants, fungi, timber, grass, vegetables, and fruit trees. Migratory birds and many local species are found in
6148-653: The Dominion Government of India , effective 12 September 1949. Eventually, Cooch Bihar became part of the state of West Bengal on 19 January 1950, with Cooch Behar town as its headquarters. Cooch Behar is in the foothills of Eastern Himalayas , at 26°22′N 89°29′E / 26.367°N 89.483°E / 26.367; 89.483 in the North of West Bengal. It is the largest town and district headquarters of Cooch Behar District , with an area of 8.29 km (3.20 sq mi). The Torsa River flows by
6264-463: The Gold Control Act, 1968. In 2012, the central government counsel S.K. Dubey told the court the possession of raw gold by Gayatri Devi was illegal. Dubey added, "The family has violated both the rules, so a fine of Rs.1.5 crore was imposed on them by the government. It was later reduced to Rs.80 lakh." Cooch Behar Cooch Behar ( / ˌ k uː tʃ b ɪ ˈ h ɑːr / ), or Koch Bihar ,
6380-420: The Indian subcontinent are usually draped with one end of the cloth fastened around the waist, and the other end placed over the shoulder baring the midriff. Saris are woven with one plain end (the end that is concealed inside the wrap), two long decorative borders running the length of the sari, and a one to three-foot section at the other end which continues and elaborates the length-wise decoration. This end
6496-594: The Indian subcontinent today. The Hindi word sāṛī ( साड़ी ), described in Sanskrit śāṭī which means 'strip of cloth' and शाडी śāḍī or साडी sāḍī in Pali , ಸೀರೆ or sīre in Kannada and which evolved to sāṛī in modern Indian languages. The word śāṭika is mentioned as describing women's dharmic attire in Sanskrit literature and Buddhist literature called Jatakas . This could be equivalent to
6612-403: The Kandyan style (or Osariya in Sinhala). The Kandyan style is generally more popular in the hill country region of Kandy from which the style gets its name. Though local preferences play a role, most women decide on style depending on personal preference or what is perceived to be most flattering for their figure. The traditional Kandyan (Osariya) style consists of a full blouse which covers
6728-399: The Lok Sabha election. The privy purses were abolished in 1971, terminating all royal privileges and titles. Gayatri was arrested under the COFEPOSA Act during the Emergency in July 1975 on the accusation of violating tax laws, and served 5 and a half months in Tihar Jail . She retired from politics and published her biography, A Princess Remembers , written by Santha Rama Rau, in 1976. It
6844-401: The RTO office, the Foreigner's registration office, the District Court in the North and others. Most of these buildings are remnants of royal heritage. Cooch Behar is very well connected by road to neighbouring areas, other cities of West Bengal and the rest of the country. Cooch Behar is a major roadway junction after Siliguri towards Northeast India and Bangladesh . NH-17 crosses through
6960-415: The Sri Lankan Parliament wear a Kandyan osari. This includes prominent women in politics, the first female premier in the world, Sirimavo Bandaranaike and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga . Contemporary examples include Pavithra Wanniarachchi , the sitting health minister in Cabinet . The adoption of the sari is not exclusive to Sinhalese politicians; Muslim MP Ferial Ashraff combined
7076-413: The United States during the 1970s. Eugene Novack who ran the New York store, Royal Sari House commented that he had initially been selling mainly to Indian women in the New York area. However, many American business women and housewives soon became his customers, favouring styles resembling western attire such as gowns. He also said that men appeared intrigued by the fragility and the femininity it confers on
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#17331063547047192-473: The abolition of the princely states , she became a successful politician in the Swatantra Party . Gayatri was also celebrated for her beauty and became something of a fashion icon in her adulthood. She served 12 years in Swatantra Party, during which she was a prominent critic of Indira Gandhi 's government. After her departure from politics, she lived a quiet life in her large estate, spending time on hobbies and leisure. She died on 29 July 2009 in Jaipur, at
7308-412: The advent of the twenty-first century. The changes concern infrastructure and industrial growth for steel (direct reduced iron), metal, cement, and knowledge-based industries. Many engineering, technology, management, and professional study colleges have opened at Cooch Behar. Housing co-operatives, flats, shopping malls, hotels, and stadiums have also emerged. As the town is near the international border,
7424-423: The advice of an unknown saint, transferred the capital from Attharokotha to Guriahati (now called Cooch Behar town) on the banks of the Torsa river between 1693 and 1714. After this, the capital was always in or near its present location. In 1661 CE, Pran Narayan planned to expand his kingdom. However, Mir Jumla , the subedar of Bengal under the Mughal emperor Aurangazeb , attacked Cooch Behar and conquered
7540-503: The age of 90. She was suffering from paralytic ileus and a lung infection. She left an estate estimated at £250 million, which was passed on to her grandchildren. Born in a Hindu royal family, her father, Prince Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar , presently in West Bengal , was the younger brother of the Yuvaraja (Crown Prince). Her mother was Maratha Princess Indira Raje of Baroda , the only daughter of Maratha King, Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III , an extremely beautiful princess and
7656-597: The back of the sari. This can create an elaborate appearance on the front, while looking ugly on the back. The punchra work is imitated with inexpensive machine-made tassel trim. Fashion designer Shaina NC declared, "I can drape a sari in 54 different styles". Hand-woven, hand-decorated saris are naturally much more expensive than the machine imitations. While the overall market for handweaving has plummeted (leading to much distress among Indian handweavers), hand-woven saris are still popular for weddings and other grand social occasions. The traditional sari made an impact in
7772-413: The back; this style was more common in parts of ancient northern India. This ancient form of bodice or choli is still common in the state of Rajasthan today. Varies styles of decorative traditional embroidery like gota patti, mochi, pakko, kharak, suf, kathi, phulkari and gamthi are done on cholis . In Southern parts of India, choli is known as ravikie which is tied at the front instead of back, kasuti
7888-411: The base fabric in patterns; an ornamented border, an elaborate pallu , and often, small repeated accents in the cloth itself. These accents are called butti or bhutti (spellings vary). For fancy saris, these patterns could be woven with gold or silver thread , which is called zari work. Sometimes the saris were further decorated, after weaving, with various sorts of embroidery. Resham work
8004-417: The city hosts Ras Mela , one of the largest and oldest fairs in West Bengal. The fair is older than 200 years. Cooch Behar Municipality organises the fair in Ras Mela ground near ABN Seal College. During the fair, it becomes a central economic hub of the North Bengal region. Merchants and sellers from all over India and also from Bangladesh join this fair. Earlier, the Maharajas of Cooch Behar used to inaugurate
8120-445: The city is 3,562 mm (140.2 in). Languages of Cooch Behar (2011) In the 2011 census, the Cooch Behar urban agglomeration had a population of 2,89,434, of which 1,46,626 were male and 1,42,808 were female. The 0–6 years population was 7,910. The effective literacy rate for the urban population was 80.59%. According to the 2011 census, the Cooch Behar Municipal area has a population of 77,935. The decadal growth rate for
8236-403: The city of Cooch Behar as its headquarters. The name Cooch Behar is derived from two words— Cooch , a corrupted form of the word Koch , the name of the Koch tribes, and the word Behar is derived from vihara meaning land . Koch Behar means land of the Koches . Cooch Behar formed part of the Kamarupa Kingdom of Assam from the 4th to the 12th. In the 13th century, the area became
8352-670: The city, especially around the Sagardighi and other water bodies. In 1976, the Cooch Behar district became home to the Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary (now Jaldapara National Park ), which has an area of 217 km (83.8 sq mi). It shares the park with the Alipurduar district. Cooch Behar has a moderate climate characterised by heavy rainfall during the monsoons and slight rainfall from October to March. The city does not experience very high temperatures at any time of
8468-500: The cloth. Inexpensive saris were also decorated with block printing using carved wooden blocks and vegetable dyes, or tie-dyeing , known in India as bhandani work. More expensive saris had elaborate geometric, floral, or figurative ornaments or brocades created on the loom , as part of the fabric. Sometimes warp and weft threads were tie-dyed and then woven, creating ikat patterns. Sometimes threads of different colours were woven into
8584-462: The daughter of Brahmo preacher Keshab Chandra Sen . This union led to a renaissance in Cooch Behar state. Maharaja Nripendra Narayan is known as the architect of modern Cooch Behar town. Under an agreement between the king of Cooch Behar and the Indian Government at the end of British rule, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan transferred full authority, jurisdiction, and power of the state to
8700-550: The drainage system. The city has one district hospital, formerly MJN Hospital, which has 400 beds. The hospital has now been converted to Cooch Behar Government Medical College and Hospital . The city also offers numerous multi-speciality hospitals such as Shubham Hospital, Cooch Behar Mission Hospital and Dr. P K Saha Hospital Pvt. Ltd. The municipality has four daily markets, two wholesale markets, and eight commercial complexes. Apart from these, two new malls have also opened recently. The central and state governments are among
8816-522: The fair by moving the Ras Chakra, and now the work is executed by the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar District. The Ras Chakra is considered a symbol of communal harmony because an artisanal Muslim family builds it from scratch. A huge crowd gathers in Cooch Behar from neighbouring Assam , Jalpaiguri , Alipurduar , and the whole North Bengal during the fair. Novelist Amiya Bhushan Majumdar
8932-509: The following families: The Nivi is the most common style of sari worn today. It originated in the Deccan region. In the Deccan region, the Nivi existed in two styles, a style similar to modern Nivi and the second style worn with front pleats of Nivi tucked in the back. The increased interactions during colonial era saw most women from royal families come out of purdah in the 1900s. This necessitated
9048-660: The heart of the city, connecting Assam and North Bengal . Apart from this, state highways including SH-16 and SH-12A, pass through Cooch Behar, connecting different places in West Bengal. North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) , a state government-run transport corporation headquartered in Cooch Behar, runs regular bus service to most places in West Bengal. Private buses are also available, which operate from bus stops or designated pick-up spots to various tows in Assam , Bihar , and West Bengal . City services from NBSTC are also available for riders to commute from different parts of
9164-484: The lower garment was called ' nivi ' or 'nivi bandha', while the upper body was mostly left bare. The works of Kalidasa mention the kūrpāsaka , a form of tight fitting breast band that simply covered the breasts. It was also sometimes referred to as an uttarāsaṅga or stanapaṭṭa . Poetic references from works like Silappadikaram indicate that during the Sangam period in ancient Tamil Nadu in southern India,
9280-594: The major carriers that connect the area to Delhi , Kolkata , Guwahati , Mumbai , Chennai, Bangkok, Paro , Bangkok and Chandigarh . Cooch Behar's schools usually use English and Bengali as their medium of instruction , although the use of the Hindi language is also stressed. The schools are affiliated with the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), or
9396-477: The major employers in Cooch Behar town. Cooch Behar is home to several district-level and divisional-level offices and has a large government-employee workforce. Business is mainly centered on retail goods; the main centers lie on B.S. Road, Rupnarayan Road, Keshab Road, and Bhawaniganj Bazar. An industrial park has been built at Chakchaka , 4 km (2.5 mi) from town, on the route to Tufanganj . A number of companies have set up industries there. Farming
9512-459: The midriff completely and is partially tucked in at the front. However, the modern intermingling of styles has led to most wearers baring the midriff. The final tail of the sari is neatly pleated rather than free-flowing. This is rather similar to the pleated rosette used in the Pin Kosuvam style noted earlier in the article. The Kandyan style is considered the national dress of Sinhalese women. It
9628-429: The midriff region on top of a sari are waist chains . They are sometimes worn as a part of bridal jewellery. Because of the harsh extremes in temperature on the Indian subcontinent, the sari fills a practical role as well as a decorative one. It is not only warming in winter and cooling in summer, but its loose-fitting tailoring is preferred by women who must be free to move as their duties require. For this reason, it
9744-953: The modern day sari. The term for female bodice , the choli evolved from ancient stanapaṭṭa . Rajatarangini , a tenth-century literary work by Kalhana , states that the choli from the Deccan was introduced under the royal order in Kashmir. The petticoat is called sāyā ( साया ) in Hindi , parkar ( परकर ) in Marathi , ulpavadai ( உள்பாவாடை ) in Tamil ( pavada in other parts of South India: Malayalam : പാവാട , romanized : pāvāḍa , Telugu : పావడ , romanized : pāvaḍa , Kannada : ಪಾವುಡೆ , romanized: pāvuḍe ), sāẏā ( সায়া ) in Bengali and eastern India, and sāya ( සාය ) in Sinhalese . Apart from
9860-448: The modern style sari may have been popularised by airline flight attendants , each region in the Indian subcontinent has developed, over the centuries, its own unique sari style. Following are other well-known varieties, distinct on the basis of fabric, weaving style, or motif, in the Indian subcontinent. Handloom sari weaving is one of India's cottage industries . The handloom weaving process requires several stages in order to produce
9976-482: The national costume. On her first red carpet appearance at the Cannes International Film Festival , she stepped out on the red carpet in a Rohit Bal sari. Many foreign celebrities have worn traditional sari attire designed by Indian fashion designers . American actress Pamela Anderson made a surprise guest appearance on Bigg Boss , the Indian version of Big Brother , dressed in a sari that
10092-407: The navel would never become visible, which may have led to a taboo on navel exposure at some times and places. It is generally accepted that wrapped sari-like garments for lower body and sometimes shawls or scarf like garment called 'uttariya' for upper body, have been worn by Indian women for a long time, and that they have been worn in their current form for hundreds of years. In ancient couture
10208-403: The navel. The pleats are tucked into the waistband of the petticoat. They create a graceful, decorative effect which poets have likened to the petals of a flower. After one more turn around the waist, the loose end is draped over the shoulder. The loose end is called the aanchal , pallu , pallav , seragu , or paita depending on the language. It is draped diagonally in front of the torso. It
10324-500: The population is 1.38%. The sex ratio is 972 females per 1,000 males. Males constitute 50.6% of the population, and females constitute 49.4%. Cooch Behar has an average literacy rate of 74.78%, higher than the national average of 74.04%. The male literacy rate is 80.71%, while the female literacy rate is 68.49%. The major religions practised in Cooch Behar are Hinduism (76.44%) followed by Islam (25.54%). Commonly spoken languages are Bengali and Hindi . Cooch Behar Municipality
10440-539: The post for eighteen years from 1896 to 1913. In 1950, when the state of Cooch Behar was merged into the Union of India, governance was passed to the Government of West Bengal. It was earlier affiliated with the University of Calcutta and University of North Bengal and is now affiliated with Cooch Behar Panchanan Barma University after the creation of the same. In 1970, it was renamed Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal College. It
10556-499: The reign of Maharaja Nripendra Narayan . It is a brick-built double-story structure in the classical Western style covering 51,309 square feet (4,766.8 square metres). The whole structure stands 395 feet (120 m) long, 296 feet (90 m) wide and rests 4 feet 9 inches (1.45 m) above ground. The Palace is fronted on the ground and first floors by a series of arcaded verandahs with their piers arranged alternately in single and double rows. The Palace projects slightly at
10672-429: The right shoulder as well. Some Nivi styles are worn with the pallu draped from the back towards the front, coming from the back over the right shoulder with one corner tucked by the left hip, covering the torso/waist. The Nivi sari was popularised through the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma . In one of his paintings, the Indian subcontinent was shown as a mother wearing a flowing Nivi sari. The ornaments sometimes worn in
10788-526: The sari drapes across fourteen states of Gujarat , Maharashtra , Goa , Karnataka , Kerala , Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh , Odisha , West Bengal , Jharkhand , Bihar , Chhattisgarh , Madhya Pradesh , and Uttar Pradesh . The Sari Series, a non-profit project created in 2017 is a digital anthology documenting India's regional sari drapes providing over 80 short films on how-to-drape the various styles. The French cultural anthropologist and sari researcher Chantal Boulanger categorised sari drapes into
10904-518: The sari is typical traditional wear for women in the Indian subcontinent, clothing worn by women in Southeast Asian countries like Myanmar , Malaysia , Indonesia , the Philippines , Cambodia , Thailand and Laos resemble it, where a long rectangular piece of cloth is draped around the body. These are different from the sari as they are wrapped around the lower-half of body as a skirt, worn with
11020-508: The silk chiffon sari to the royal fashion repertoire. Under colonial rule, the petticoat was adopted, along with Victorian styles of puffed-sleeved blouses, which was commonly seen among the elites in Bombay presidency and Bengal presidency . Nivi drape starts with one end of the sari tucked into the waistband of the petticoat , usually a plain skirt . The cloth is wrapped around the lower body once, then hand-gathered into even pleats below
11136-460: The southern and northern ends, and in the center is a projected porch providing an entrance to the Durbar Hall . The Hall has an elegantly shaped metal dome topped by a cylindrical louvre-type ventilator. This is 124 feet (38 m) high from the ground and is in the style of Renaissance architecture. The intros of the dome are carved in stepped patterns, and Corinthian columns support the base of
11252-545: The standard "petticoat", it may also be called "inner skirt" or an inskirt. The history of sari-like drapery can be traced back to the Indus Valley Civilisation , which flourished during 2800–1800 BCE around the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent . Cotton was first cultivated and woven on the Indian subcontinent around the 5th millennium BCE. Dyes used during this period are still in use, particularly indigo , lac , red madder and turmeric . Silk
11368-499: The symbol of Indian , Sri Lankan , and Bangladeshi culture , respectively. Similarly, the female politicians of all three countries wear the sari in a professional manner. Bangladeshi politicians usually wear saris with long sleeve blouse while covering their midriff. Some politicians pair up saris with hijabs or shawls for more coverage. The women of the Nehru–Gandhi family like Indira Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have worn
11484-591: The territory, meeting almost no resistance. The town of Cooch Behar was subsequently named Alamgirnagar. Pran Narayan regained his kingdom within a few days. Between 1772 and 1773, the Bhutanese Desi attacked and seized control of Cooch Behar. In response, Cooch Behar entered into a defence treaty with the English East India Company on 5 April 1773, to drive out the Bhutanese invaders. During this period, Bhutanese coins were minted in Cooch Behar. Once
11600-529: The wearer. Newcomers to the sari report that it is comfortable to wear, requiring no girdles or stockings and that the flowing garb feels so feminine with unusual grace. The sari has gained its popularity internationally because of the growth of Indian fashion trends globally. Many Bollywood celebrities, like Aishwarya Rai , have worn it at international events representing India's cultural heritage . In 2010, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone wanted to represent her country at an international event, wearing
11716-433: The western side of town. Heavy rains often cause strong river currents and flooding. The turbulent water carries huge amounts of sand, silt, and pebbles, which hurt crop production as well as the hydrology of the region. Alluvial deposits from the soil, which is acidic. The soil depth varies from 15 to 50 cm (5.9 to 19.7 in), superimposed on a bed of sand. The foundation materials are igneous and metamorphic rocks at
11832-572: The year. The daily maximum temperature is 32.2 °C (90.0 °F) in August, the hottest month, and the daily minimum temperature is 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in January, the coldest month. The highest temperature in Cooch Behar was 41.0 °C, recorded on 11 September 1977; the lowest temperature recorded was 3.3 °C, reported on 28 January 1982. The atmosphere is highly humid. The rainy season lasts from June to September. The average annual rainfall in
11948-406: Was 12 and he had come to Calcutta to play polo and stayed with their family. She married Sawai Man Singh II Bahadur on 9 May 1940. Gayatri was a particularly avid equestrienne . She was an excellent rider and an able Polo player. She was a good shot and enjoyed many days out on 'Shikars'. Gayatri was fond of cars and is credited with importing the first Mercedes-Benz W126 , a 500 SEL to India which
12064-588: Was Bisu, later called Biswa Singha , who came to power in 1515 CE. Under his son, Nara Narayan , the Kamata Kingdom reached its zenith. Nara Narayan's younger brother, Shukladhwaj ( Chilarai ), was a noted military general who undertook expeditions to expand the kingdom. He became governor of its eastern portion. As the early capital of the Koch Kingdom, Koch Behar's location was not static and became stable only when it shifted to Cooch Behar town. Rup Narayan, on
12180-668: Was also published in Marathi language as A Princess Remembers: Gayatri Devi . She was also the focus of the film Memoirs of a Hindu Princess , directed by Françoise Levie. There were rumours that she might re-enter politics as late as 1999, when the Cooch Behar Trinamool Congress nominated her as their candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, but she did not respond to the offer. Gayatri Devi had one son, Prince Jagat Singh, Raja of Isarda (15 October 1949 – 5 February 1997), who
12296-484: Was born in the Hindu royal family of Cooch Behar . Her father was Maharaja Jitendra Narayan of Cooch Behar in West Bengal , and her mother was the Maratha Princess, Indira Raje of Baroda , the only daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III , and she was sister to Jagaddipendra Narayan , informally known as 'Bhaiya', who succeeded their father to the throne of Cooch Behar. Following India's independence and
12412-498: Was born, raised, and worked in Cooch Behar. Cooch Behar, with its people, culture, and the river Torsha has been a recurrent theme in his novels. Apart from this, Cooch Behar has a rich history of Debate, Extempore, and Quizzing. Cooch Behar is a significant tourist destination in West Bengal . The main attractions are: It is the main attraction of the city, having been modelled after Buckingham Palace in London and built in 1887 during
12528-542: Was closely connected to Gaekwads of Baroda State . Further, her sister Ila Devi was married into the Tripura royal family, and her younger sister, Maneka Devi, was married into the royal family of Dewas State . Thus, through various relatives, she was related to the royal houses of Kota , Sawantwadi , Akkalkot State , Jath State , Dewas Jr., Jasdan State , Sandur , Tehri-Garhwal , Mayurbhanj , Dhar State , Kolhapur , Lunawada State , Baria and Raja of Payagpur , which
12644-465: Was considered normal amongst the royalties of India. She was admitted at Santokba Durlabhji Memorial hospital (SDMH) on 17 July 2009. She died at the age of 90 on 29 July 2009, reportedly due to lung failure. Her family has approached the Delhi High Court to regain 800 kg of gold which was taken away by the government in 1975 describing possession of the gold by Gayatri Devi to be illegal as per
12760-401: Was described by Beaton as one of the ten most beautiful women in the world. In a 2004 interview, Gayatri mentioned "I have never felt beautiful...I remember as a young girl, my mother had to literally force me into applying lipstick, physical appearance doesn't bother me, it never has, it never will" . In 1962 Jacqueline Kennedy visited Gayatri Devi in India and were photographed together at
12876-500: Was established in 1888 as Victoria College by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan of Koch Bihar to enhance student capability in the Kingdom. The first principal was John Cornwallis Godley, who in 1895 became the second principal of Aitchison College in Lahore . Later, Maharaja Nripendra Naryayan offered the post of principal to Acharya Brojendra Nath Seal , a Brahmo and philosopher, who remained in
12992-456: Was granted his paternal uncle's (father's elder brother) fief of Isarda as a subsidiary title. Jagat Singh was married on 10 May 1978 to Mom Rajawongse Priyanandana Rangsit (b. 1952), daughter of Prince Piyarangsit Rangsit and Princess Vibhavadi Rangsit (née Rajani) of Thailand . The couple had two children: Today, they are her only surviving descendants, and as such, have claimed to be heirs of their paternal grandmother. Maharaj Jagat Singh
13108-449: Was later shipped to Malaysia. She also owned several Rolls-Royces and an aircraft. Gayatri had one child, Prince Jagat Singh of Jaipur, late Raja of Isarda, born on 15 October 1949, who was granted his uncle's fief as a subsidiary title. Jagat Singh was the half-brother to Bhawani Singh , who was the eldest son of his father born by his father's first wife. As a style icon, Gayatri was shot by photographer Cecil Beaton for Vogue . Gayatri
13224-568: Was paternal half-brother to Bhawani Singh of Jaipur , the eldest son of the late Maharaja by his first wife, a Jodhpur princess. Gayatri Devi was related to several erstwhile royal families in India. She was herself not from the Rajput community, but from a dynasty native to Cooch Behar in Bengal, and was daughter of Maharaja Jitendra Narayan and Maharani Indira Raje , who was daughter of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and Maharani Chimnabai , belonging to
13340-670: Was specially designed for her by Mumbai-based fashion designer Ashley Rebello. Ashley Judd donned a purple sari at the YouthAIDS Benefit Gala in November 2007 at the Ritz Carlton in Mclean, Virginia. There was an Indian flavour to the red carpet at the annual Fashion Rocks concert in New York, with designer Rocky S walking the ramp along with Jessica, Ashley, Nicole, Kimberly and Melody –
13456-472: Was woven around 2450 BCE and 2000 BCE. The word sari evolved from śāṭikā ( Sanskrit : शाटिका ) is mentioned in early Hindu literature as women's attire. The sari or śāṭikā evolved from a three-piece ensemble comprising the antarīya , the lower garment; the uttarīya ; a veil worn over the shoulder or the head; and the stanapatta , a chestband. This ensemble is mentioned in Sanskrit literature and Buddhist Pali literature during
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