The kurta with its side slits in the Punjabi kurta can be traced to the 11th century C.E.[11] female kurtaka worn in parts of north India. The kurtaka was a short shirt, with sleeves extending from the shoulders, to the middle of the body, and had slashes on the left and the right sides.[12] This is the same as the modern Punjabi kurta which has side slits and is worn by women in the Punjab region[13] as do men. The kurta also draws inspiration from the jama and the Punjabi angarkha. The kurta can be worn with a salwar, suthan, tehmat, lungi, dhoti, Punjabi ghagra and jeans.

  • Kurta - Men's

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  • Man in Dhoti Kurta

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  • Man in blue kurta

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  • kurta

Multani kurta[edit]

The Multani kurta is crocheted using designs of Multan (Punjab, Pakistan).[14] Local Ajrak prints are also used.

  • Saraiki Ajrak

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  • Saraiki Ajrak

Punjabi phulkari kurta[edit]

A Phulkari kurta is embroidered using the Phulkari embroidery of the Punjab region.[15]

  • Patiala Phulkari

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  • Josephine Powell Collection, voor 1965: Phulkari kurta

Punjabi bandhani kurta[edit]

Bandhani tye-dyeing is popular in the Cholistan desert[16] area of the Punjab region. Bandhani patterns are used on kurtas.


  • Rohi (Cholistan) woman's bandhani dress (Punjab, Pakistan)

Muktsari kurta[edit]

The traditional Punjabi kurta of the Punjab region is wide and falls to the knees[17] and is cut straight.[18] The modern version of the regional kurta is the Mukatsari kurta which originates from Muktsar in Punjab. This modern Punjabi kurta is famous for its slim fitting cuts and smart fit designs. It is very popular among young politicians.[19]

Salwar Kameez[edit]

Main article: Salwar (Punjabi)

The Salwar is the traditional dress of women in the Punjab region. It is made up of a kurta or kameez and a straight cut salwar. In some parts of the Punjab region, men also wear the Punjabi suit.

The Punjabi suit is cut differently to the styles worn in Balochistan and Afghanistan[20] and is known as a "Punjabi suit"[21][22] with the kameez being cut straight and flat with side slits[23] (which is a local development as earlier forms of kameez did not have side slits/it's a remnant of the varbana).[24] The salwar is wide at the top but fits closely to the legs and is gathered at the ankles.[25] The Punjabi salwar is also cut straight and gathered at the ankles with a loose band reinforced with coarse material. In rural Punjab, the salwar is still called the suthan.[26] The Punjabi suit is popular in other regions of the subcontinent,[27][28] such as Mumbai and Sindh.[29] It is also popular in Afghanistan,[30] where it is called the Punjabi.[31]