TCD Toolkit logo Traditional Costume Design Toolkit

Ohoriya

Ohoriya is a Kandyan female costume with a draped lower cloth, held end, frill and jacket, strongly linked to bridal, elite and regional dress traditions.

Historical background

The national costume of Sinhalese women is called ohoriya and is strongly associated with the Kandyan region. It includes a draped cloth, held end, neriya and jacket. The costume has evolved through cultural, regional and colonial influences while continuing to communicate femininity, dignity, ritual meaning and social identity.

Costume components

Held end / ohori pota

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Draped cloth / lower fabric

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Frill / neriya

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Puff sleeve jacket / borichchi hattaya

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Headdress / nalalpatiya

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Sun and moon

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Hair flower

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Brooch

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Waist chain

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Anklet

Reference component for learning, design selection and sartorial practice.

Jewellery and accessories by body part

Head

Headdress / nalalpatiyaSun and moon / ira handaHair flower / konda malaHair pin / konda koora

Ears

Dimithi / thodu

Neck

Throatlet / karapatiyaDragon necklace / makara maalayaPendant necklaces / padakkam maalaPethi maalaya

Shoulder

Brooch / ohori katta

Hand

Seed bangle / gedi walaluSeri walaluKalagedi walaluAngili mudu

Waist

Waist chain / gedi hawadiya

Ritual awareness

Ohoriya dressing is linked with bridal ritual, auspicious timing and symbolic jewellery placement, including the headdress that may be placed by the bride’s mother while pirith is chanted.