Gamchha

A gamchha (alternate spellings "gamocha", "gamchcha", "gamcha", "et al", Bengali: গামছা) is a thin, coarse, traditional cotton towel found in India and Bangladesh that is used to dry the body after bathing. The term "gamchha" derives from the Bengali গা মোছা ("gā mochha"), which means "wiping (the) body". Gamchha is the local term for indian towel.However its appearance varies from region to region. Gamchhas are most commonly found with check and striped patterns of red, orange or green. Plain white gamchhas with coloured (embroidered or printed) borders from Orissa and Assam are local handicrafts, and may be worn around the neck with traditional Indian attire. In western parts, gamchhas are primarily made in red colour and are plain like cloth. In southern india, gamchhas are more coarse and are available in various dyes. Even grey and pink colours are available in southern gamchhas. In Maharashtra region light weight turkish towels made at home are also popularly termed as gamchhas. Gamchhas remain popular in India because they are not as thick as Western-style towels and better suited to the country's tropical, humid climate.

Gamchhas are also worn as loin cloths by people of the poorer sections of society, especially menial labourers and farm workers.

ee also

*Lungi
*Krama