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A lehenga, also known as lehnga or langa, is a traditional Indian garment that consists of three pieces: a skirt (lehenga), a blouse (choli), and a dupatta (a long scarf or shawl). Here are the key components in detail:
Lehenga (Skirt): The lehenga for Women is a long, flowing skirt that is typically heavily embroidered, beaded, or embellished. It is often made from rich fabrics such as silk, satin, velvet, or georgette and can be designed in a variety of styles, including A-line, mermaid, or circular. The skirt is usually worn at the waist and may have a drawstring or zipper for closure.
Choli (Blouse): The choli is a fitted blouse that is often short, leaving the midriff exposed. It can be styled in numerous ways, with variations in sleeve length, neckline, and back design. Like the lehenga, the choli is often decorated with embroidery, beadwork, or sequins to match the skirt.
Dupatta (Scarf): The dupatta is a long scarf or shawl that complements the lehenga and choli. It can be draped over the shoulders, around the neck, or over the head, and is often adorned with matching embellishments.
Lehengas are popular attire for weddings, festivals, and special occasions in South Asia, particularly in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. They come in a wide range of colors, designs, and levels of intricacy, making them a versatile and cherished garment in South Asian fashion.
There are several types of lehengas fo women, each with unique designs and silhouettes suited for different occasions and body types.
A-Line Lehenga:
Description: This lehenga has an A-line lehenga shape that fits at the waist and flares out towards the hem, resembling the letter 'A'.
Occasion: Versatile for various events, including weddings and festivals.
Circular Lehenga:
Description: Known for its wide and voluminous flare, this type has a circular cut and provides a lot of fabric to create a dramatic effect.
Occasion: Ideal for brides and festive occasions.
Mermaid/Fishtail Lehenga:
Description: Fitted at the waist and hips, it flares out from the knees resembling a mermaid's tail.
Occasion: Suitable for formal events and receptions.
Paneled Lehenga:
Description: Made with multiple panels stitched together, this lehenga offers a lot of flare and can combine different fabrics and colors.
Occasion: Great for traditional functions and weddings.
Sharara Cut Lehenga:
Description: Resembling wide-legged pants, this lehenga looks like a skirt but is divided, offering comfort and style.
Occasion: Popular for weddings and sangeet ceremonies.
Straight Cut Lehenga:
Description: Features a straight silhouette from the waist to the hem, offering a more streamlined look.
Occasion: Perfect for parties and formal events.
Lehenga Saree:
Description: A fusion of lehenga and saree, where the lehenga is draped with a dupatta in a saree-like manner.
Occasion: Suitable for those who want the elegance of a saree with the ease of wearing a lehenga.
Flared Lehenga:
Description: Similar to the circular lehenga but with even more volume and pleats, offering a very traditional and grand look.
Occasion: Ideal for bridal wear and grand celebrations.
Trail Lehenga:
Description: Features a long trail at the back, adding a dramatic and regal touch to the attire.
Occasion: Best for brides and high-profile events.
Jacket Lehenga:
Description: Paired with a long jacket instead of a traditional choli, offering a contemporary and stylish twist.
Occasion: Perfect for fashion-forward events and weddings.
Tiered/Ruffled Lehenga:
lehenga
Description: Characterized by multiple layers or tiers, creating a ruffled and voluminous look.
Occasion: Great for festive occasions and modern bridal wear.
Each type of lehenga offers a unique look and can be chosen based on personal style preferences, the nature of the event, and comfort.
Advantages of Lehenga
Lehengas offer several advantages, making them a popular choice for various occasions, particularly in South Asian cultures. Here are some key benefits:
Versatility:
Lehengas come in various styles, fabrics, and designs, making them suitable for a wide range of events, from weddings and festivals to formal parties and casual gatherings.
Elegance and Glamour:
With their rich fabrics, intricate embroidery, and embellishments, lehengas exude elegance and glamour, making the wearer stand out in any crowd.
Comfort:
Unlike some traditional attire, lehengas can be relatively comfortable to wear, especially those with adjustable waistbands. The skirt allows for ease of movement, making it suitable for dancing and long events.
Customization:
Lehengas can be easily customized in terms of design, color, fabric, and fit to match personal preferences and specific themes or requirements of an event.
Flattering Silhouette:
The flared design of many lehengas suits various body types, enhancing the wearer’s figure by accentuating the waist and creating a balanced silhouette.
Cultural Significance:
Wearing a lehenga connects the wearer to cultural heritage and traditions, making it a meaningful choice for significant life events like weddings.
Fusion Fashion:
Modern lehengas can be paired with contemporary elements such as crop tops or jackets, allowing for a fusion of traditional and modern fashion that appeals to younger generations.
Variety of Fabrics:
Available in a range of fabrics like silk, velvet, chiffon, georgette, and cotton, lehengas can be chosen to suit different weather conditions and personal comfort levels.
Accessories Friendly:
Lehengas offer plenty of opportunities to accessorize with jewelry, shoes, and bags, allowing the wearer to enhance their overall look and express personal style.
Reusable:
Lehengas can often be repurposed by mixing and matching with different tops or dupattas, providing more value and versatility for the investment.
Photogenic:
The rich textures, vibrant colors, and elaborate designs of lehengas make them highly photogenic, ensuring that special moments are captured beautifully.
Timeless Appeal:
Despite evolving fashion trends, lehengas retain a timeless appeal, often being passed down through generations as cherished heirlooms.
Overall, lehengas offer a perfect blend of tradition, beauty, and functionality, making them a cherished choice for many occasions.
Lehengas hold significant importance for several cultural, social, and personal reasons. Here are the key aspects that highlight their importance:
Cultural Heritage:
Lehengas are deeply rooted in South Asian culture and tradition. Wearing a lehenga during important events like weddings and festivals helps preserve and celebrate cultural heritage and customs.
Symbolism in Weddings:
For many brides, wearing a lehenga is a traditional and symbolic part of the wedding ceremony. It represents the bride’s transition and is often chosen in auspicious colors and designs that signify prosperity and happiness.
Expression of Artistry:
Lehengas are often intricately designed with detailed embroidery, beadwork, sequins, and other embellishments. This showcases the rich craftsmanship and artistic skills of local artisans, preserving traditional arts and crafts.
Identity and Pride:
Wearing a lehenga can instill a sense of pride and identity, connecting individuals to their roots and giving them a sense of belonging within their community.
Celebration of Femininity:
Lehengas, with their elegant and elaborate designs, celebrate femininity and grace. They accentuate the natural beauty of the wearer and enhance their confidence.
Social Significance:
In social settings, wearing a lehenga can signify respect for the occasion and the hosts. It’s often considered appropriate attire for traditional events, showcasing the wearer's appreciation for cultural norms.
Versatility and Adaptability:
Lehengas are versatile garments that can be adapted to various styles, from traditional to contemporary, making them suitable for a wide range of events. This adaptability ensures they remain relevant across generations.
Symbol of Prosperity and Elegance:
Traditionally, lehengas are made from luxurious fabrics and adorned with rich embellishments, symbolizing prosperity, elegance, and high status. They are often chosen to reflect the wearer’s taste and social standing.
Preservation of Traditions:
Wearing a lehenga during festivals like Diwali, Navratri, or Eid helps in preserving and continuing traditional practices, ensuring that cultural values and stories are passed down through generations.
Connection to Ancestry:
Many families have heirloom lehengas that are passed down through generations. Wearing such pieces can create a deep connection to one’s ancestry and family history.
Inclusivity and Representation:
In multicultural societies, wearing a lehenga can be a way to represent and share one’s cultural background, fostering inclusivity and understanding among diverse communities.
Personal Milestones:
Beyond weddings, lehengas are often worn for other significant personal milestones such as engagements, anniversaries, and milestone birthdays, marking these events with special attire that adds to the celebratory mood.
In essence, the lehenga is much more than just a garment; it is a symbol of cultural identity, tradition, and personal expression. Its importance transcends mere aesthetics, embodying deep-rooted values and historical significance.
conclusion
In conclusion, the lehenga is a significant and cherished garment that holds deep cultural, social, and personal importance. It is a symbol of tradition and heritage, celebrating the rich artistry and craftsmanship of South Asia. Worn during pivotal life events like weddings, festivals, and personal milestones, the lehenga connects individuals to their cultural roots, expressing pride, identity, and elegance. Its versatility allows it to adapt to modern fashion trends while preserving timeless traditions, making it a beloved attire across generations. Whether as a reflection of personal style, a celebration of femininity, or a means of preserving cultural practices, the lehenga remains a vibrant and meaningful aspect of South Asian attire.

(Sometimes when writing one of these I'll go check and see how those who covered the case themselves did so and to see if they have any extra sources of their own. It appears that outside of the news media, this case has not been covered by anyone prior to me.
This means this is another one researched entirely by me, involving going through as many newspaper article as possible. However this appears to be a huge case in Georgia so if anyone speaks Georgian or is Georgian, feel free to correct me on any mistakes made
One thing I'm already a little on the fence about is that this may come off as too pro-convicted in the event that the correct verdict was reached, especially with how heinous the crimes are. But in my research I couldn't actually find in detail the prosecutor's rebuttals to the defence's claims and I just write whatever I can find personally. Some details also may still be lost in translation)
Little information seems to be known on the very early years of Ryan Michael Smith other than the fact that he was born in 1975 in San Diego, California. At 7 years old his family both moved to Marneuli, Georgia for a brief period which Ryan always remembered. Later Ryan moved to Azerbaijan in 2002. In Azerbaijan, Ryan soon learnt Azerbaijani and developed an interest in traditional carpets and rugs. He spent his time in the Caucasus, living with the native Lezghi people and using what he learnt from them, attempted to set up a local rug business but the business never took off and in December 2005 he returned to The United States. While in America he met Lora Joy Tacquard born in 1976, a school teacher. The two would eventually marry.
In 2010 the couple moved back to Marneuli and lived with Georgia's Azerbaijani community. Lora began working as an English teacher while Ryan tracked down elderly residents who knew how to weave, sow and make old-style carpets and rugs which were slowly falling out of fashion so he himself could learn how to make them, try starting up a business again and revive them. In 2012, Ryan finally found enough professionals to formally hire and founded his company "reWoven". That same year, he and Lori obtained Georgian citizenship becoming dual nationals.
In the early years of reWoven's operations, most of the money made went back into the local community, to pay for the resident's medical bills, legal fees and infrastructure. They also used the profits to fund weddings, funerals, and local civic events, even spending 10,000 dollars to buy 400 sets of plates, glasses and cutlery for the local community center and to fund the construction of a children's playground. Most of Ryan's own money that he used to support himself came from donations from both Georgia and from relatives in the United States.
They always wanted to have a child and first attempted so in 2012 with Lora giving birth to a baby girl named Shannon. Tragically Shannon was born unhealthy and passed away after only 9 days. Lora would then suffer three consecutive miscarriages until the couple's healthy son, Caleb Ismat Smith was born in 2014. Caleb was raised bilingually and by the age of 4, he was able to understand both English and Azerbaijani. In 2016, the family built themselves a house in Marneuli and decided that they would live in Georgia permanently and planned on becoming only Georgian citizens.
Ryan, Lora and Caleb
On July 3, 2018, the family decided to take a little vacation and went hiking at the Khadi Valley in Dusheti, Georgia. They spent the night in the valley, on the meadow, near a local village and on July 4, they began exploring the valley, river and waterfall, taking pictures of everything. On July 6, they were reported missing by friends and relatives after Ryan failed to show up to a meeting in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
The police and Georgia's Emergency Management Agency organized a search and rescue operation to find the family. That same day, on July 6, they found their car and personal belongings near the village of Tskere. 3 kilometres away from the car, Lora's naked body was found at the foot of a waterfall. Initial examinations conducted apparently showed no signs of intinial violence although she did sustain many bruises, cuts and scratches but they could've been the result of a fall. The only item of note was a wristwatch. so the police were now continuing the search efforts under the assumption that the family had all suffered an accident. The search was then called off due to the rain and resumed on July 7. On that day, Ryan's body was found floating in a river bearing many injuries and one source said he was "mutilated". Found near his body were a camera case, a child's toy shovel, and a plastic chisel Police assumed these injuries were caused post-mortem by being dragged along by the river current, but an autopsy revealed that the injuries, specifically blunt force trauma to his abdomen, legs, shins, chest and armpits were man-made and that the cause of death was a gunshot wound.
Now that it was a murder investigation, the police amped up the search for 4-year-old Caleb, the only member of the family still missing. The police even closed off the area to all other tourists, the only people allowed were the search and rescue team aided by local guides and shepherds and even using a drone once. According to the police they had gone through 99% of the valley and searched an area of 11 kilometers but Caleb was still nowhere to be found.
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The search operation
Still lacking any trace of Caleb, the police shifted focus to trying to find a suspect. The police learned that the two had a local shepherd to guide them. The shepherd was a 19-year-old named Malkhaz Kobauri. Malkhaz had taken part in the search efforts and was joined by other shepherds. In fact, Malkhaz was the one who just so happened to find Lora's body. These fellow shepherds were questioned and they told police that slightly before they went missing, he returned to a campsite the shepherds had set up and was missing his watch and had a scratch on his chin. Malkhaz said that he lost his watch and was very reluctant and nervous when asked about his scratch. The police showed the watch to all those present who identified it as Malkhaz's.
Malkhaz was arrested on July 8 and repeatably interrogated. According to him, He and Ryan had gotten into an argument over Malkhaz being negligent with a hunting rifle and in the course of the argument, Ryan would be proven correct when he pointed it toward him and accidentally shot him. Afterwards, wanting to cover up the crime he shot Caleb and then Lora ran away and accidently fell from the cliff. To cover up and hide his crime he buried Caleb's body near a waterfall. He led police to the burial site and when the police dug up Caleb's body, they also recovered a camera used by the family during their trip. An autopsy revealed that Caleb had also been shot to death at least 3-4 times from different trajectories.
Going through the pictures, the police found 3-4 pictures of Malkhaz leading the family through the valley. In one of the pictures, he was seen holding the rifle used to shoot Ryan and Caleb with his pockets bulging from the rifle cartridges. On that same rifle both his and the victim's DNA were found. The last pictures were taken at the aforementioned waterfall and in all of them, Malkhaz was wearing the wristwatch found near Lora's body.
Malkhaz after his arrest
Now who was Malkhaz Kobauri? Malkhaz was born sometime in late 1998 in the village of Sadziguri located in a region called Akhalgori. They were moderately successful, selling various goods such as chickens and crops. In 2008 this would all be taken away when the Russo-Georgian War broke out and Akhalgori fell under the control of the largely unrecognized and self-proclaimed country of South Ossetia. Malkhaz's family fled before the annexation.
After fleeing they arrived in the capital Tbilisi as refugees with the Georgian government eventually providing Malkhaz, his parents and 5 siblings temporary housing at a cottage in Tsilkani with some farmland. They engaged in backbreaking labour in the farmlands for hours upon hours with little to no profit, and then a new factory opened up in the area which harmed their financial situation even further, then Malkhaz's mother was struck by illness and became bedridden for over a year. Eventually, Malkhaz had to drop out of school and went out to work as a shepherd to help his family.
Soon after his arrest, Malkhaz retracted his confession. He now claimed to only be a witness and that two foreigners emerged from a black vehicle and that he went into hiding while he watched the two kill Ryan, Lora and Caleb and then watched them dispose of the bodies. Malkhaz would now never deviate from this story and his family and his lawyer believed him to be truthful and that the police forced him to confess and were making a scapegoat out of them. His mother went so far as to pledge that she'd find the real killer all by herself, in her own words "even if they are buried in the ground"
Upon his arrest, Malkhaz was made to undergo a psychiatric evaluation where he was found to be sane and thus charged with the murder of the family on July 10 where in court, he continued with his story that two unknown foreigners were responsible and that they threatened to kill him and his family if he came forward. He described them as two meters tall and dark-skinned, and that the Georgian they spoke was accented, he believed them to be North Caucasians. He was unable to describe their vehicle aside from its colour because he was too far away from it. According to his lawyer, there were even witnesses who saw this car and could vindicate Malkhaz but that the police purposefully refused to question them. They even had plans to have a digital recreation of those men's faces created. On July 11th, he was remanded to custody and held in pretrial detention as due to his hometown now being in South Ossetia, it was believed that he may flee and that an extradition would be immensely unlikely.
Malkhaz at his pre-trial hearings
Unfornatuely for Malkhaz, his claim of innocence, already seemingly unlikely was looking more and more implausible. A forensic autopsy conducted on Lora's body showed samples of Malkhaz's DNA and biological profile on her body. After this revelation his lawyer withdrew from the case and he was assigned a new attorney. His new lawyer tried to claim that it didn't necessarily mean she was raped and Malkhaz demanded he be examined immediately, claiming to be impotent, the prosecution was still already looking into further charges. Malkhaz also changed his story and claimed that he was swimming when seven attackers as opposed to two emerged, stole his gun and ordered him out of the water while he looked away. The only reason his life was spared is because one of the men convinced the others not to kill Malkhaz This story only made him look more guilty as if it were true, there would be no way for him to know where Caleb's body had been buried. But regardless, Malkhaz remained confident and asked the court and investigators to investigate his cellphone records and where his phone pinged as it would exonerate him. His lawyer also remained confident and firmly believed in his client's innocence even stating that he would be willing to fly to The United States and question the victim's relatives himself.
He also said that the autopsy and forensic reports contradicted the prosecution's version of events. According to them, after an argument, he shot Ryan once and to silence Caleb's cries he also shot him before attacking Lora, raping her before ending her life. But the autopsies found no traces of violence on Lora's body to prompt a reconsideration of the theory that she simply fell, in fact, the cause of death was still listed as drowning and Caleb as mentioned seemed to have been shot from mutable different trajectories as opposed to a single bullet. Lastly, they doubted the report which stated that Malkhaz's sperm was found on Lora's body and underwear as when she was found, Lora was in the water and had been dead for 2-3 days. He went so far as to accuse the report of being fabricated. The autopsy conducted on Ryan also determined that the bullet that had killed him was fired from an above trajectory which according to his lawyer, meant that it was impossible for Malkhaz to have been the gunman as he was shorter than Ryan. According to Malkhaz, Ryan had tried wrestling the gun away from his killer's hands with the fight resulting in wounds to his legs and stomach before he finally shot Ryan at close range, killing him. Malkhaz's lawyer also felt it unlikely that he caused Ryan's pre-mortem injuries due to his build and body type.
On November 9th, only a week before his trial on November 19, 2018, the prosecution added on an extra charge with Malkhaz now set to stand trial not just for murder, but also for the rape of Lora Smith and changed their story claiming that the motive for the murder was the rape and that his altercation with Ryan was over him sexually harassing Lora and not gun safety. They also now stated that they believed Lora was killed elsewhere, and carried over to a river where she was disposed of and flowed down until falling off the cliff. Malkhaz's lawyer was furious and also believed this impossible. According to him, they actually conducted a test after this theory where they tried carrying on their backs (which is what the prosecution alleged that Malkhaz did) the equivalent of Lora's weight through the valley's terrain and actively struggled to walk it over to where Malkhaz supposedly disposed of her body. And even if he could, the current was calm and it wasn't raining so they doubted that her body could've floated to where it was found. The prosecution refuted this, stating that the report on the injuries Lora had sustained was amended to be the result of violence, the claims that Malkhaz was impotent to them held no weight, and leading up to the murders, Malkhaz had frequently browsed pornographic websites.
Because the defence demanded a jury trial not long before the trial itself was due to begin, the proceedings were delayed as the jury selection began. The Trial proper began on March 5, 2019, at the Gori District Court. The defence repeated their claims that Malkhaz was being scapegoated as 95% of the prosecution's own evidence was supposedly not presented and out of the 126 witnesses only 20 were called, the defence believed that the remaining 100 would either contradict their version of events or even outright exonerate him. On March 25, 2019, after 4 hours of deliberation, the jury returned their unanimous verdict finding Malkhaz guilty. On March 27, Malkhaz Kobauri was handed down a life sentence without the possibility of parole. After hearing the sentence, His mother and aunt both fainted and had to be hospitalized. Meanwhile, the victim's family and American Representatives were satisfied with the sentence. Upon recovery, they refused to accept the verdict and his mother even accused The United States of influencing the trial in some way.
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Malkhaz at cournt
Malkhaz's mother removed from court on a stretcher.
In October 2019, Ryan's family wrote a letter to Malkhaz while he was in prison where they chose to forgive him. Malkhaz was appreciative but continued to stand by his innocence and said that the only thing "keeping me going" was that his family still continued to fight in an attempt to exonerate him. His lawyer also announced his intention to appeal and his family even tried to have The European Court of Human Rights hear the case but were unable to due to the finances involved. In November 2022, he sent a letter back saying much the same, that he was innocent.
MreWoven remains in business to this day and continues in Ryan, Lora and Caleb's memory.
Sources (In the comments)

Been stuck on this one for quite some time. Any help would be much appreciated.
Clues: Clue 1: Be precise when measuring. Clue 2: R+J = O Clue 3: How do you make 7 min using a 3 minute and 5 minute hourglass? You can turn the hourglass over before they finish.
Notes:
There are 2 codes and each are 2 digits. Can be numbers or letters. This is a French app, so the J means jaune (yellow in French) and the b is for blanco (white) N = negro (black) as well.