Traditional Limbu Women Dress and Ornaments

Sim- Traditional dress (phareeya), which is 7 yards long material wrapped in a skirt.

Cholo- a blouse made of hand-woven material of Dhaka.

Phae: A long cloth wrapped around the waist to tie the SIM.

Thakhumya: A scarf or a bandana to cover the head as an accessory.

Nesse: A pair of large flat gold earrings.

Mundri & dhungri: Gold nose rings.

Phangsese: A necklace of nine gold beads that are strung with glass beads.

Labaphung: An ornament of gold crescent brooch worn as a hair pin.

Chandrahaar, Namloi and Yogakpa: Large silver necklaces.

Sisiphung nekkhophung: A pair of flower-shaped gold ear stud.

Reji. A coin necklace made from old silver coins.

Swagep: A gold finger ring.

Lashkari: Five or Six similar small gold ear hoops worn in a row.

Kalli : A pair of silver anklets.

The above mentioned SIM, CHOLO and PHAE are worn mostly by the elderly Limbu women in today’s scenario. The younger generations today wear a single piece of cloth (5 to 6 meters long) with inbuilt pleats in the frontal area and an inbuilt phae or a belt with a blouse (not necessarily made from Dhaka material).

Picture Courtesy: Mr. Kushel Gurung.