Indian Lehenga choli has travelled a long way from the royal courts of
Mughal Empire to a favoured dress of Indian women for all types of formal
occasions. It is interesting to know about lehenga history, which says that
it is worn by women since Mughal era. At that time it was considered as a
dress that had the ability to bedeck Indian beauty in the most modest
manner. Even today, the essence of Mughal culture is very much intact and is
depicted in traditional Mughal designs.
Through history, the lehenga has undergone very little change. In fact even
today leading manufacturers do not fail to steal traditional patterns form
the golden Mughal era. The ensemble still comprises a traditional long
skirt, the choli and the dupatta. The fabrics used to make the lehenga are
in fact the same as those used under the great Mughal King, Akbar i.e. silks
and brocades. The dupatta is now made of silk, linen of chiffon which is a
new development.