The National Dress of Nepal

Nepal is a land that is full of unique places, festivals, cuisine and the dress is no exception!



Daura suruwal is the name for traditional Nepali male dress. Daura suruwal consists of a knee-length sleeved shirt that ties closed at the side, pants and shoes called docha. Politicians and government officials still wear the daura suruwal daily. Some men may choose to wear a coat or jacket over the daura suruwal for warmth. Several aspects of the dress have religious significance for the Buddhist and Hindu practitioners in Nepal. These include the five pleats of the shirt which signify the Pancha Buddha or Pancha Ratna, the closed collar that represents the snake around Shiva’s neck and the eight ties used to tie the shirt, which is a lucky number in Buddhism and Hinduism.

The gunyo cholo is the female equivalent to the male daura suruwal. It is a silk or cotton shirt that ties to the side with similar collar and pleats to the daura suruwal.