Choli Choli A choli (Hindi: चोली, , , Nepali: चोलो "cholo") (known in South India as "ravike" (Kannada: ರವಿಕೆ, Telugu: రవికె, Tamil: ரவிக்கை)) is a midriff-baring blouse or upper garment commonly worn with a sari in the Indian subcontinent. The choli is also part of the ghagra choli costume in the Indian subcontinent. The choli evolved from the ancient "stanapatta", also known as "kurpsika" or "kanchuki", which was one of the forms of three-piece attire worn by women during the ancient period. This consisted of the "antriya" lower garment; the "uttariya" veil worn over shoulder or head; and the "stanapatta," a
Sari of two garments in one-piece. The ancient Sanskrit work, "Kadambari" by Banabhatta and ancient Tamil poetry, such as the "Silappadhikaram", describes women in exquisite drapery or sari. In ancient India, although women wore saris that bared the midriff, the Dharmasastra writers stated that women should be dressed such that the navel would never become visible. By which for some time the navel exposure became a taboo and the navel was concealed. In ancient Indian tradition and the Natya Shastra (an ancient Indian treatise describing ancient dance and costumes), the navel of the Supreme Being is considered to be the source