Tamang women dress for Sonam Lhosar in layers that have names: the hembari or cholo on top, the striped syama wrapped below, the patuka bound at the waist and the ghalek crossing from the shoulder to the opposite hip. This set carries that order into a lehenga, with the striped cloth of the syama gathered into a skirt that moves, and the brocade top, patuka and ghalek cut from one length of tash kuchin so the four pieces read as one outfit.
The top is tash kuchin brocade, woven with floral or medallion figures that change with the colourway, fully lined, closing at the side under a mandarin collar with a corded tie and a tassel, and bound on every edge with gold zari lace. The lehenga is a striped cotton in the colours of the top, gathered at a tie waist into a full flare and finished with a wide band of the same brocade and a line of gold lace along the hem. The patuka is a long brocade belt to wrap the waist, and the ghalek is a striped panel with brocade ends and tassels that drapes from the left shoulder to the right hip. Each set is cut only after you order and checked for fit, finishing and cultural accuracy before it ships. Each one is tailor-made to your measurements — after ordering, Bhutib contacts you directly to confirm fit and preferences.
Wear the four pieces together for Sonam Lhosar, a wedding or a cultural programme, or the top on its own over trousers; the set sits with the Tamang kuchin bakhu with three-quarter honju sleeves and the rest of the dresses, topis and sets of Tamang dress. Each set is stitched for Bhutib in the Eastern Himalayan hills.
| Includes |
Brocade top, striped lehenga, patuka belt, ghalek shawl |
| Construction |
Lined tash kuchin brocade top with side tie; tie-waist cotton lehenga with brocade hem band; gold zari lace on every edge |
| Cultural wear |
Tamang women, for Sonam Lhosar, weddings, Dashain and Tihar, cultural programmes |
| Styling |
Ghalek from the left shoulder to the right hip, patuka wrapped over the top |
Questions buyers ask
How is this different from the Gurung lehenga set? The Gurung set pairs a gold brocade top with a black check lehenga. This Tamang set uses a striped lehenga in the colour of the brocade top, after the striped syama that Tamang women wrap, and a ghalek cut from the same stripe.
How do I wear the ghalek? Drape it from the left shoulder across the body to the right hip and let the patuka hold the lower end at the waist, so the brocade ends and tassels hang at the hip.
Is the lehenga sized? Yes. The top is cut to your chest and the lehenga to your length, with a tie waist that adjusts; the patuka and ghalek are one size.
