Dresses of the women folk______________
Due to the influence of the Turks, Afghans and the Mughals a marked change was also noticed in the garments of the women folk. The practice of wearing colourful sarees started from this period. The “Anchal” of the saree was left over the shoulder to enhance the beauty. The “Choli” or the “Kancholi” as we know today was introduced to the women as the “Angia”. From the Pathans

and the Mughals our ladies got the “Salwar” and the “Pajama”. This Pajama was of the same variety worn by the gentlemen. They also adopted the “Ghangra”, the “Do-patta” and the “Orna”. From them hung a bundle of keys or sometimes a tinkling ornament known as the “Kinkini”. But these garments did not penetrate deep within the Hindu society and the basic convention of wearing the saree was not affected. In short the Bengalis retained their own dress code in spite of so much influence of the Pathans and the Mughals.The weavers of Bengal produced varieties of fabrics. It need not be mentioned that the

aesthetic sense of the Bengalis is the source of their textile triumph. With their artistry the Bengalis overwhelmed the world community. “Dhakai Muslin” overawed the whole world and this success of the textile brought about the downfall of India as the British interest in merchandise gradually shifted to creating a dominion. 

In the year 1826, Feni Parks, a lady from England, attended the function at one of the rich Bengali house holds. She was curious to see