Ladies, don't wear your underwear in public in India.

natasha chanda acharya · Apr 4th, 2005, 12:15

petticoat: single coloured stitched skirts with a two inch slit near the waist and a drawstring to tie it.

wrap skirt: not stitched, wide, rectangular piece of cloth, with a belt on each end, which goes goes around your waist 1 and 1/2 times, meaning the back will have one layer of skirt, while the front will have two layers, so that there is so leg showing even when you walk. not originally an Indian garment.

sarong: not stitched, not so wide, rectangular piece of cloth, usually thin material(summers), with no belt, which just wraps around you once and is knotted at the waist. will usually leaves a long slit where the ends fall together, so nice leg view.

Usually worn in beaches, on top of swimwear. not originally an Indian garment.

half sari / mundu: as explained by Nick. not much experience there.

Apart from wearing petticoats, foreigners are also frequently seen wrapping a "dupatta" around their waist, sarong style. understandably comfortable because the materials are usually thin. There is no harm in wearing it so, nevertheless, would still like to point out to concious travellers, try to stand against the light when you wear thin materials as substitute skirts. It might not be a good idea if it is transparent enough to see your legs outlined, unless of course, you are on a beach.

machadinha · Apr 4th, 2005, 18:07

The secret of wearing a sari explained: http://stores.ebay.com/Indianexotica...ar-A-Sari.html

More possible pointers at http://images.google.com/images?q=sari+petticoat .

I'd still need someone to explain it live though (I'd also need to see it to understand the difference.)

Digital Drifter · Apr 4th, 2005, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

The secret of wearing a sari explained: http://stores.ebay.com/Indianexotica...ar-A-Sari.html

Wowee, will the wonders of the internet never cease? A sari wearing guide!

somnath · Apr 6th, 2005, 11:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by machadinha

The secret of wearing a sari explained: http://stores.ebay.com/Indianexotica...ar-A-Sari.html

Has anyone (Men) ever tried Dhuti / Dhoti here?
machadinha, could you help us - any Dhoti wearing guide on net?

Nick-H · Apr 6th, 2005, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by somnath

Has anyone (Men) ever tried Dhuti / Dhoti here?
machadinha, could you help us - any Dhoti wearing guide on net?

Yes! But I wear it the simple S. Indian way, just a wrap-around, none of this complicated between-the-legs dhoti style.

It is perfect for the climate, cool and comfortable. When you feel too warm you just grab a corner, lift it up and let the heat out! Can't do that with trousers!

But one thing I have yet to learn the knack of is how to make the loose tuck that holds the bottom edge up giving a knee-length garment. This would be really useful in the rain we've been getting the past two days.

machadinha · Apr 6th, 2005, 19:13

Quote:

Has anyone (Men) ever tried Dhuti / Dhoti here?
machadinha, could you help us - any Dhoti wearing guide on net?

Hmmm am I the house Googler now....?

I never tried the dhotis no, seemed far too complicated.

Quote:

But I wear it the simple S. Indian way, just a wrap-around, none of this complicated between-the-legs dhoti style... But one thing I have yet to learn the knack of is how to make the loose tuck that holds the bottom edge up giving a knee-length garment.

Don't you mean a lungi? I wore those. The tucking up is a hassle yes, I'd sort of fold it in and give it a double twist to make it stick. I guess it works if you have no choice, I tried it back home and couldn't get it to stay. Over there I'd carry my cigarettes or wallet in the fold. But the locals were surely a lot handier at it.

Ah look just to humour Somnath: http://www.google.com/search?q=dhoti...ear% 22&meta= , many more sari tips too

(ps if someone wants to go through that and come up with a pictorial guide would be handy, all I found was textual advice

)

Bigzero · Apr 6th, 2005, 20:59

Here is a pictorial representation i had given in an earlier thread - this is for the south indian dhoti/lungi/mundu..

Random and otherwise unanswered questions...

machadinha · Apr 6th, 2005, 21:12

Great Bigzero! Is that enough to keep it from slipping down? Do wear your underwear all you inexperienced gents

I was referring to how to wear a dhoti though, not tucking in a lungi. No luck so far yet, although this one is funny but far from practical http://members.tripod.com/%7edaceg/1/dhoti.html LOL.

Bigzero · Apr 6th, 2005, 21:19

underwear is standard with a lungi, but there are some advantages for not having one -the air-conditioning effect as nick had mentioned in an earlier post..

Nick-H · Apr 6th, 2005, 23:26

No, I don't mean a lungi, if I'm right in thinking that that is the coloured cloth that is stitched in a circle.

Yes, I do wear underpants with it. Except around the house first thing, in the night, etc. Still plenty of ventilation!

Digital Drifter · Apr 7th, 2005, 16:25

OK, here goes an non-authoritative account.

Veshti- 4 yards or 8 yards length + white in colour, with or without zari(borders). generally 2 thin strips of colour or gold filigeree along the the shorter edge.

dhoti- 8 yards wrapped in the traditional, between the legs style. same characteristics as above. can be be worn in the veshti way too which is the generally preffered way.

lungi- 4 yards, coloured cloth, edges are either stitched or unstitched.

Pottering about the house or quick dashes to the local shops uses a veshti or lungi. More formal occasions, ALWAYS wear the 8 yard veshti or dhoti depending on the style you prefer. Preferably, crisply ironed

the 4 or 8 yards veshti/dhoti is the equivalent of half sari and a normal sari for women. 4 yard veshtis worn by the young & the longer ones after you grow a wee bit older.

Down south, if you see someone wearing it in the traditional between the legs style, it means there is some formal/religious function at home. A homam(puja), a thevasam/thidhi(death anniversary prayers), GrihaPravesham (house warming) and a whole host of other things.

When you buy them, the costs depends upon the thread count 80, 100, 200 and the quality of the material, silk or cotton or TC. The higher the count, the more threads it has, blah,blah.....

Happy?

Nick-H · Apr 7th, 2005, 16:53

I think it might have been Beech who gave some good answers on this a while back in some thread somewhere but...

I don't agree about the 8-yard vesti. Actually I think a dhoti (between the legs) is...

...a quick bit of measuring later: mine are 3-yards. Some of my cotton ones are fairly posh, but they are not any longer. I have one posh cotton one with a wonderful multi-coloured vertical stripe which is 4 yards. This includes my very-posh, Sunday- (sorry, Friday-) best pure silk vestis which I wear for performing and temple functions.

8 yards would be longer than a sari (ok, there are special 9-yarders). What would a man do with all that cloth! ?

Now, what else to disagree on.... Well, vesti is not less traditional or less formal than dhoti, it is a different style that goes with different areas. I don't know any Tamil vesti wearers that will wear dhoti for special occasions. Just they will wear silk or very best cotton. Just that the silk vesti is never hitched up to knee level.

I do see people in Chennai wearing dhotis, so nothing is absolute!

readmymind · Apr 7th, 2005, 20:23

lungis were a surprise to me when i went to india. i had just never imagine seeing men walking around in such an outfit. they look so comfortable. we are far too strict here in the west !

maybe i liked to see them because i also have a thing for seeing a man in a kilt. i just love when the legs show.

Bigzero · Apr 7th, 2005, 20:55

Lungi can also be a fashion statement...

readmymind · Apr 7th, 2005, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigzero

Lungi can also be a fashion statement...

more please

Apr 4th, 2005, 18:07	#17
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,149	The secret of wearing a sari explained: http://stores.ebay.com/Indianexotica...ar-A-Sari.html More possible pointers at http://images.google.com/images?q=sari+petticoat . I'd still need someone to explain it live though (I'd also need to see it to understand the difference.) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Apr 6th, 2005, 20:59	#22
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,444	Here is a pictorial representation i had given in an earlier thread - this is for the south indian dhoti/lungi/mundu.. Random and otherwise unanswered questions... __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

Apr 7th, 2005, 20:23	#28
readmymind curious soul Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: california Posts: 137	lungis were a surprise to me when i went to india. i had just never imagine seeing men walking around in such an outfit. they look so comfortable. we are far too strict here in the west ! maybe i liked to see them because i also have a thing for seeing a man in a kilt. i just love when the legs show. __________________ *~ everything is right for it's place and time ~* Last edited by readmymind : Apr 7th, 2005 at 22:05.

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Apr 4th, 2005, 12:15	#16
natasha chanda acharya barefeet indian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 566	petticoat: single coloured stitched skirts with a two inch slit near the waist and a drawstring to tie it. wrap skirt: not stitched, wide, rectangular piece of cloth, with a belt on each end, which goes goes around your waist 1 and 1/2 times, meaning the back will have one layer of skirt, while the front will have two layers, so that there is so leg showing even when you walk. not originally an Indian garment. sarong: not stitched, not so wide, rectangular piece of cloth, usually thin material(summers), with no belt, which just wraps around you once and is knotted at the waist. will usually leaves a long slit where the ends fall together, so nice leg view. Usually worn in beaches, on top of swimwear. not originally an Indian garment. half sari / mundu: as explained by Nick. not much experience there. Apart from wearing petticoats, foreigners are also frequently seen wrapping a "dupatta" around their waist, sarong style. understandably comfortable because the materials are usually thin. There is no harm in wearing it so, nevertheless, would still like to point out to concious travellers, try to stand against the light when you wear thin materials as substitute skirts. It might not be a good idea if it is transparent enough to see your legs outlined, unless of course, you are on a beach.

Apr 6th, 2005, 21:12	#23
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,149	Great Bigzero! Is that enough to keep it from slipping down? Do wear your underwear all you inexperienced gents I was referring to how to wear a dhoti though, not tucking in a lungi. No luck so far yet, although this one is funny but far from practical http://members.tripod.com/%7edaceg/1/dhoti.html LOL.

Apr 6th, 2005, 21:19	#24
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,444	underwear is standard with a lungi, but there are some advantages for not having one -the air-conditioning effect as nick had mentioned in an earlier post..

Apr 6th, 2005, 23:26	#25
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,832	No, I don't mean a lungi, if I'm right in thinking that that is the coloured cloth that is stitched in a circle. Yes, I do wear underpants with it. Except around the house first thing, in the night, etc. Still plenty of ventilation!

Apr 7th, 2005, 16:25	#26
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	OK, here goes an non-authoritative account. Veshti- 4 yards or 8 yards length + white in colour, with or without zari(borders). generally 2 thin strips of colour or gold filigeree along the the shorter edge. dhoti- 8 yards wrapped in the traditional, between the legs style. same characteristics as above. can be be worn in the veshti way too which is the generally preffered way. lungi- 4 yards, coloured cloth, edges are either stitched or unstitched. Pottering about the house or quick dashes to the local shops uses a veshti or lungi. More formal occasions, ALWAYS wear the 8 yard veshti or dhoti depending on the style you prefer. Preferably, crisply ironed the 4 or 8 yards veshti/dhoti is the equivalent of half sari and a normal sari for women. 4 yard veshtis worn by the young & the longer ones after you grow a wee bit older. Down south, if you see someone wearing it in the traditional between the legs style, it means there is some formal/religious function at home. A homam(puja), a thevasam/thidhi(death anniversary prayers), GrihaPravesham (house warming) and a whole host of other things. When you buy them, the costs depends upon the thread count 80, 100, 200 and the quality of the material, silk or cotton or TC. The higher the count, the more threads it has, blah,blah..... Happy?

Apr 7th, 2005, 16:53	#27
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,832	I think it might have been Beech who gave some good answers on this a while back in some thread somewhere but... I don't agree about the 8-yard vesti. Actually I think a dhoti (between the legs) is... ...a quick bit of measuring later: mine are 3-yards. Some of my cotton ones are fairly posh, but they are not any longer. I have one posh cotton one with a wonderful multi-coloured vertical stripe which is 4 yards. This includes my very-posh, Sunday- (sorry, Friday-) best pure silk vestis which I wear for performing and temple functions. 8 yards would be longer than a sari (ok, there are special 9-yarders). What would a man do with all that cloth! ? Now, what else to disagree on.... Well, vesti is not less traditional or less formal than dhoti, it is a different style that goes with different areas. I don't know any Tamil vesti wearers that will wear dhoti for special occasions. Just they will wear silk or very best cotton. Just that the silk vesti is never hitched up to knee level. I do see people in Chennai wearing dhotis, so nothing is absolute!

Apr 7th, 2005, 20:55	#29
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,444	Lungi can also be a fashion statement...

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