A long scarf or veil worn as part of traditional dress in South Asian cultures, particularly worn by women in parts of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
From Hindi/Urdu 'dupatta,' possibly derived from Sanskrit 'dupaṭṭa' or Persian influences. The word entered English through colonial contact with South Asia.
The dopatta is functionally genius—it drapes over the shoulders and can cover the head, adjust for modesty, or become a shawl, showing how a single garment adapts to multiple needs across South Asian cultures and climates.
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