Maniam PS [Guru] Reward Points : 137200 Member Since : Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Would appreciate if some one could throw some light as to where is the origin of the large length of fabric often wrapped around the waist called Lungi or Kaily in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Interestingly, this particular dressing is worn in most parts of Asia and Arabian Peninsula.
Hi Maniam. this information is for you .. Manuscripts and other evidences point out the origin of the lungi in the present day Tamil Nadu. The lungi was earlier known as Veshti , a white colored garment. Historical evidences point out that the Muslin cloth of Veshti was exported to Babylonia from Tamil Nadu. Writings in Babylonian archaeological articles specify the word Sindu , which in Tamil means garment . A sect of fishermen in Tamil Nadu called Baradavargal exported lungis to East Africa, Egypt, and Mesopotamian regions. With the passage of time, the white lungi became a more refined and colorful garment with flowers and other designs printed on it. Gradually, stripes, checks in various blends of fabrics, cotton being the most popular, were made available in the market. n Kerala, the lungi, generally colourful, and available in varying designs, is worn by both men and women.Physical labourers use it as a working dress. A lungi in plain white, known as mundu, often bears a golden embroidery, especially in the border length, known as kasavu, which is worn on ceremonial occasions like weddings, festive occasions, etc. Saffron-coloured mundus are also known as kaavi munde. The men generally tuck up their mundus or lungis with the bottom of the garment being pulled up and tied back on to the waist. This would make the mundu or lungi only cover the body from the waist to the knees. In Karnataka, coloured lungi is called munda whereas plain white double folded cloth similar to lungi is called a panche, which is worn during formal ceremonies. These are also used in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, only men wear this garment, used in a similar fashion as that of Kerala s. It is also known as Kaili or Saaram/Chaaram in South Tamil Nadu.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 1:11:32 AM
Abhi Tripathi [Guru] Reward Points : 74900 Member Since : Monday, January 07, 2008
Most of us are hardly aware of the fact of the origin of lungi rooted in the epic Mahabharata . During the epical days, men wore white and other sober colored clothes, while women wore dark colors. Arjuna was an adventurous warrior who visited newer lands in search of adventure. Once he found three bright colored sarees folded neatly and placed on a rock in the river bank, hardly aware of the fact that those might be the attire of the ladies taking bath in the river. As it was dusk, he didn t notice anyone and thinking them to be abandoned clothes, he took them home. It was evening time and his mother with her eyes closed was sitting in front of the deity offering her prayers. Arjuna interrupted asking her to see what he brought, and the mother, with her eyes still closed asked him to divide it equally among the five brothers. The dutiful and obedient Arjuna promptly cut each saree into two parts so that each gets an equal portion and distributed them among his brothers. Each of them wore the half piece of saree around their waist tying them into a knot, and this is how the lungi was invented
Posted On : 4/13/2009 1:12:43 AM
Maniam PS [Guru] Reward Points : 137200 Member Since : Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Posted By : Darshil Jal daru khanewala Posted On : 4/13/2009 1:11:32 AM Go
Hi Maniam. this information is for you .. Manuscripts and other evidences point out the origin of th..
Thanks for the explanation Mr. Abhishek Tripathi.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 2:00:14 AM
Chetan Juneja Reward Points : 55000 Member Since : Monday, April 28, 2008
Depending on local tradition, lungis can be worn by men and/or women. They are tied or fastened in various ways, and can be used in different cultural activities, ranging from normal daily life to elaborate wedding ceremonies. For daily purposes, a simple double twist knot is most popular, where two points in the upper edge of lungi are brought together and twisted around twice, with the ends tucked in at the waist. However, it is also common for wearers to simply tie a double pretzel knot from 2 points on the upper border, which produces a more secure knot. The lungi s length can also be adjusted, for example, by tucking in the lungi at the waist to make it resemble a short skirt.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 3:24:30 AM
Suparna Sen Reward Points : 26200 Member Since : Saturday, March 14, 2009
Manuscripts and other evidences throw light on the origin of the lungi in the present day Tamil Nadu. The lungi was earlier known as Veshti , meaning a white colored garment. Historical evidences show that the Muslin cloth of Veshti was exported to Babylonia from Tamil Nadu. Writings in the Babylonian archaeological articles specify the word Sindu , which in Tamil means a garment . A sect of fishermen in Tamil Nadu called Baradavargal exported lungis to East Africa, Egypt, and the Mesopotamian regions. With the passage of time, the white lungi became a more refined and colorful garment with flowers and other designs printed on them. Gradually, stripes, checks in various blends of fabrics, cotton became most popular with regard to lungis or Kaily. An intersting observation about lungi is that the origin of lungi rooted in the epic Mahabharata . There is a story that Arjuna of the Pandavas once found three bright colored sarees folded neatly and placed on a rock in the river bank. As it was dusk, he did not notice anyone and thinking them to be abandoned clothes, he took them home. It was evening time and his mother with her eyes closed was sitting in front of the deity offering prayers. Arjuna interrupted asking her to see what he brought, and the mother, with her eyes still closed asked him to divide it equally among the five brothers. Theobedient Arjuna promptly cut each saree into two parts so that each gets an equal portion and distributed them among the five brothers. Each of them wore the half piece of saree around their waist tying them into a knot, and this is how the lungi got its form.
Posted On : 4/13/2009 4:11:17 AM
Siddharth Ray Reward Points : 61200 Member Since : Tuesday, April 07, 2009
The lungi is a garment worn around the waist and the thighs. It is a rectangular cloth made of cotton or art silk or in any combination having a width of 110 cms. or above and 64 ends per inch and above. The traditional lungi originated in South India, and today it is worn by men and women alike. It is available in single colour, checks, stripes, and printed in various types of fabrics including blends. For ceremonial occasions, the lungi is available in the finest cloths with brocades and embroidery. Depending on local tradition, lungis are tied or fastened in various ways, and can be used in different cultural activities, ranging from normal daily life to elaborate wedding ceremonies. For daily purposes, a simple double knot is the most popular, since it is least likely to slip or come undone. The lungi is one of the most comfortable garments as its length can be adjusted easily. People residing in hot and humid regions where the climate seems unpleasant for trousers, find the lungi as a comfortable garment. The lungi is worn by men and women alike, but used more by the male community. This garment is popular in South India in particular and India in general, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar formerly Burma , Yemen, Somalia, South Africa and parts of Southern Asia. Manuscripts and other evidences point out the origin of the lungi in the present day Tamil Nadu. The lungi was earlier known as Veshti , a white colored garment. Historical evidences point out that the Muslin cloth of Veshti was exported to Babylonia from Tamil Nadu. Writings in Babylonian archaeological articles specify the word Sindu , which in Tamil means garment . A sect of fishermen in Tamil Nadu called Baradavargal exported lungis to East Africa, Egypt, and Mesopotamian regions. With the passage of time, the white lungi became a more refined and colorful garment with flowers and other designs printed on it. Gradually, stripes, checks in various blends of fabrics, cotton being the most popular, were made available in the market. In Kerala, the lungi, generally colourful, and available in varying designs, is worn by both men and women.Physical labourers use it as a working dress. A lungi in plain white, known as mundu, often bears a golden embroidery, especially in the border length, known as kasavu, which is worn on ceremonial occasions like weddings, festive occasions, etc. Saffron-coloured mundus are also known as kaavi munde. The men generally tuck up their mundus or lungis with the bottom of the garment being pulled up and tied back on to the waist. This would make the mundu or lungi only cover the body from the waist to the knees. In Karnataka, coloured lungi is called munda whereas plain white double folded cloth similar to lungi is called a panche, which is worn during formal ceremonies. These are also used in Andhra Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, only men wear this garment, used in a similar fashion as that of Kerala s. It is also known as Kaili or Saaram/Chaaram in South Tamil Nadu. Interesting Facts about Lungis Lungi Foldability Advantage Male students of Trivandrum engineering college never have pajama parties they only have lungi parties Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu is the Paris of lungi fashion Seventy percent of the India s lungi trade takes place at Coimbatore and Erode railway stations when trains are halted there Foldability of the lungi is very handy for fighting villains on the street, as Mohanlal and Mammooty and other actors have demonstrated on the silver screen In addition to providing comfort, the lungi also acts as a ventilation factor in summer.
The Indian Lungi Or Kaily
