''Chattayum Mundum'' is a traditional attire used by the Syrian Christian women of Kerala. It is a seamless white garment, consisting of a white blouse covering the whole upper part of the body (''"Chatta"'') and a long white garment called ''"

Mundu The mundu (Malayalam: ; ) is a garment worn around the waist in the Indian states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, the Lakshadweep archipelago, and the Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives. It is closely related to sarongs like dhotis and lungis ...

"'' which is wrapped around the waist which reaches to the ankles. The "''Chatta''" is of

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

origin and the "''Mundu''" is of

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...

n origin. The ''Mundu'' used is 9.5 yards long. The ''"Chatta"'' or the Blouse would either be full sleeve which covers the whole arm or would be near to the elbow. A fan like appendage is also made in the backside by pleating the garment. A creamish white cloth with a golden border known as the ''"Kavani"'' or ''"Neriyathu"'' is worn over the left shoulder and tucked into the ''Mundu'' when the women are outside the house. Traditionally in the church the women cover themselves with another white cloth with a golden border ''"

Kasavu Kasavu is a technique used in handlooms of Kerala, with very fine threads of gold or silver used in weave to make border lines and designs on silk and cotton fabrics. This technique later spread to most of India and the Kasav technique was develope ...

"'' which is worn over the head covering the head and the shoulders. It is now limited to the older female adherents and the

Margamkali Margamkali (Malayalam:മാർഗ്ഗംകളി ) is an ancient Indian round dance of the St. Thomas Christians community- based in Kerala state, mainly practiced by the endogamous sub-sect known as the Knanaya or Southist Christians. The ...

performers. The traditional Syrian Christian dance

is performed by wearing a slightly shorter variant of the Chattayum Mundum.The Hosten pictures of 1924 published by Prof. George Menachery may be referred to Malabar_Christians_of_19th_century

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* Dresses Indian clothing {{Kerala-stub

See also

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