Molathadu is a sacred waist thread used by

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

men to ward off evil. It is mainly used in

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 territ ...

. It usually is in red or black. Tying the thread around the waist is an old tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years, and it is thought to be a symbol of protection from bad spirits. It is mostly the Hindu and Muslim communities in southern India that adhere to these customs and traditions. Black or red colored threads are typically used.

References

Hindu culture {{hindu-stub