*** Welcome to piglix ***

Sbai


Sbai, sabai (Khmer: ស្បៃ; Thai: สไบ; Lao: ສະໄບ), or pha biang (Lao: ຜ້າບ່ຽງ; Thai: ผ้าเบี่ยง) is shawl-like garment, or breastcloth worn in mainland Southeast Asia. The term "sabai" is used for a woman's silk breast wrapper in Cambodia, central Thailand, southern Thailand, Isan, and Laos while in coastal Sumatra it described as a shoulder cloth..." Sabais can also be worn by men in Lao weddings or when attending religious ceremonies. The type of sabai typically worn by Lao men often has checkered patterns. Sabai also well known as a long piece of silk, about a foot wide, draped diagonally over the chest covering one shoulder with one end dropping behind the back."

The sabai is Cambodia's national costume tie with its ancient's sampot and chang kben.

Along with the shoulder sash, selendang of Malay and sabai of Cambodia may have been derived from the Indian garment called a sari, the end of which is worn over one shoulder, as most Southeast Asia countries were ruled by Indianized kingdoms.

There are a related mythology in Khmer culture, retained a history of sabai which can likely to be invent since 1st century of Funan era in Cambodia's history. Preah Thaong and Neang Neak, a legend which shares a common with the founder of Funan era as the two main characters were recognize the similarity to Queen Soma, a first leader of Cambodia and a Brahmin Kaundinya. It discovered with the tales in the scene when Preah Thong clings to a piece of cloth known as sabai worn on the nagini in order to make the journey to the Nāga's kingdom. In that tale, sabai is symbolic of Neang Neak, the naga princess's tail. For instance, there is an important little rite within the marriage ceremony called Preah Thong Taong Sbai Neang Neak, a symbolic representation of the legend as the groom must to hang the bride's sabai, follows to the room for honeymoon.


...
Wikipedia

...