RAS question
The 'Rajasthani Odhni' (head covering/veil) is traditionally worn as part of:
Correct answer: (C) The purdah/ghunghat system reflecting modesty and respect for elders.
The Rajasthani odhni is traditionally worn as part of the purdah or ghunghat system, expressing modesty and respect within women’s attire.
Explanation
The odhni, also called odhna, chunari or ghunghat, is not a casual accessory but a core part of traditional Rajasthani women’s dress. Sundari Silks describes the classic ensemble as an upper garment, a ghagra and a veil, with the odhni draped over the head and upper body. Married women traditionally cover the head in the presence of elder male relatives as part of ghunghat pratha. The odhni also signals community, social and marital status, and modesty, with Rajput women using it as purdah to veil the face. That is why option C captures both the garment and the social meaning behind it.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Calling it only a fashion statement misses its role as an essential garment tied to community, marital status and modesty.
- (B) The odhni is part of daily traditional attire, draped with the ghagra and upper garment, not a garment reserved for sleeping.
- (D) Rain protection does not explain its cultural use as a veil, its link with purdah, or its signals of social and marital status.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan art and culture through traditional dress, especially how clothing carries social meaning. RAS asks such points because attire, customs and community markers are standard parts of Rajasthan’s cultural heritage syllabus.