Sudreh

Sudreh is a white cotton shirt worn by adherents of Zoroastrianism as a sacred garment. It constitutes one of the two main ritual garments in Zoroastrian practice, the other being the kusti, a sacred girdle worn around the waist. The sudreh is worn close to the body as a daily sign of purity and commitment to the religion’s ethical principles, including truth, righteousness, and social responsibility.

The sudreh is typically donned after the initiation ceremony, called navjote, and is worn for life by most adherents. During daily prayers and rituals, the wearer also uses the kusti, placing it around the waist over the sudreh and reciting prescribed prayers. The combination of sudreh and kusti serves as a constant reminder of the wearer’s vow to live a virtuous life and to uphold the community.

Symbolically, the white color of the sudreh represents purity and new beginnings, while its use signals readiness to act in accordance with the ideals of the religion. The garment is designed to be simple and practical, with regional and sectarian variations in cut or style, but it remains primarily a plain, utilitarian garment rather than a decorative one.

Maintenance and practice vary by community, but the sudreh is generally treated with care as a symbol of spiritual duty. It is replaced when worn or soiled, and its daily use is integrated into personal and communal ritual life.

See also: Kusti, Navjote.