A burkha is a large, flowing outer garment. It is worn by many Muslim women over their normal clothing as a sign of modesty when they are in public. However, women remove the burkha when they are at home.

There are different types of burkhas. Those worn in Afghanistan hang from a small cap and cover the body from head to toe. They are usually blue and have a mesh over the eyes to allow the wearer to see.

In other parts of the world, burkhas are all black. Some expose the hands and feet, while others expose the eyes and the entire face.

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Text: Jackie Sawiris; Image: Jenny M Buccos