is a traditional form of
underwear
Undergarments, underclothing, or underwear are items of clothing worn beneath outer clothes, usually in direct contact with the skin, although they may comprise more than a single layer. They serve to keep outer garments from being soiled o ...
for women
of all ages worn among
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 ...
women in
Kerala
Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...
(the southernmost
state of India). is a
dothi (
sarong
A sarong or sarung () is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist, worn in Southeast Asia, South Asia, Western Asia, Northern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric often has woven plaid o ...
) tied in such a way that it is tight, and can't be accidentally untied.
Specifications
A cotton (handloom) cloth of size 6 × 3 (1 = 1.5 ft approximately) is used to drape around the waist, in a particular style under the outer garment (
pavada,
saree
A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include:
* as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO
* bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO
* gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std= ...
, or
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 ...
).
Other names
is also called in some parts of the state. The word is more often used in the southern part of Kerala; is mostly a northern Kerala usage. However, there are certain differences in wearing compared to . The style of wearing is simpler than that of and there are different types of .
History
In the olden days, tradition said that people should visit the temple in the morning and evening, wearing , because having a dip and coming to temple with wet garments was strictly prohibited as it exhibited the body parts to others. Both men and women wore it, but women in particular wore it at home and as an inner garment while going out.
Nowadays it is increasingly being used by women of all classes of society.
Medical benefits
provides enough support and covers the vulva completely, giving enough space for absorption of secretions and at the same time giving ample space for air circulation as it is worn loose in those areas. Even during menstruation, it prevents leakage from the sides and a feeling of uneasiness due to its breadth.
References
Kerala clothing
Undergarments
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