Kerala Traditional Dress – Style, History, Fabric and Cultural Significance

Introduction

Kerala, the God's own country, is also associated with backwaters and beaches, yet one more important feature is associated with the diversity in Kerala in the form of its cultural attire. The Kerala traditional dress is an indication of the simplicity, purity, and elegance of the state.

Now we are going to dive into the aesthetics of the Kerala iconic dressing outfits of men and women, the textiles, colors of the outfits, and occasions when these are used traditionally.

Classic Kerala Woman Dress.

Kerala women are famous because of the elegance of their traditional clothing, which is comfortable. Their most common saree is the Kasavu saree, which is a plain white or off-white saree bordered with gold.

Kasavu Saree – Symbol of Grace

This is the wisdom of a classic about Kerala- Kasavu saree. It is composed of fine cotton and is beset with zari of gold, called here Kasavu. Women use this saree during such festivals as Onam, Vishu, and weddings dresses. The white and the combination of gold depict peace, prosperity, and purity.

Kerala Set Mundu - No Frills 1.

The other fashionable female wear is the Set Mundu, or the Mundum Neriyathum. It is made of two sections, one of them being the lower section known as the Mundu and the upper one known as the Neriyathu. Mundu is barely around the waist, and Neriyathu is across the shoulder. It is typically combined with a blouse with a golden border so that it can have a full traditional appearance.

Modern Touch to Kerala Saree

Now, young women in Kerala wear modern blouses and sarees along with Jewellery. Kasavu saree designers have also proposed silk models and have added embroidery to blend the traditional with modern trends. It has become the regular dressing code in cultural activities, weddings, and even in offices during the festivals.

Pure Men Kerala Traditional Dress.

Kerala traditional dress for men is a simple but fashionable dress, which normally consists of Mundu, Veshti, and a cotton shirt or angavastram.

Mundu - The Kerala Men's Wear.

Mundu is another name for a rectangular piece of cotton cloth that is used to encircle the waist and is tucked in. It is commonly white or cream and has a golden edge called Kasavu. Men do not show it so much, the occasional occasions. They wear it together with a silk shirt or jubba (kurta) when they are celebrating festivals or weddings.

Veshti - Time-honored Style

The Veshti is a little more formal variant of the Mundu. It is usually put on during weddings and religious occasions. Many Veshti are worn by older men in the countryside in everyday life, as it is comfortable in the humid climate of the state of Kerala.

Mundu Variations Style and Colour.

Mundu comes in two major types: the Single Mundu and the Double Mundu. The Double Mundu is more formal with two layers and is used during special occasions, whereas the Single Mundu is used in day-to-day activities. On special occasions like festivals, men wear the Mundu half and secure it at the waist- a popular Kerala way.

Kerala Wedding Dress

The Kerala wedding dress suggests the pride of culture and spirituality. Men and women are dressed in white and gold which symbolizes balance and purity.

Bridal Dress in Kerala

The bride is also supposed to wear Kasavu saree or a golden silk saree with jewelry that is crafted of temple gold. Ornaments that she wears include Palakka Mala, Kasumala, and Jhimkis. There are jasmine flowers in her hair to complete the conventional bridal appearance and look.

Groom’s Dress in Kerala

The groom is wearing Mundu with a Kasavu border and a silk shirt or jubba. There are also some grooms who wear a shawl known as Mundu Veshti in order to make it look royal. Western suits can be worn by men in Christian weddings, even though, Mundu is also a classic favorite.

Kerala Festival Traditional Dresses.

Indeed, festivals in Kerala are vivid, and the use of traditional costumes makes the festival special. During Onam, Vishu, and festivals in temples, people wear their most exquisite traditional attire.

Onam Dress

The Onam dress is also celebrated on a day that women don the Kasavu saree, and men don the Kasavu Mundu. Families pose together in some matching clothes, which symbolize togetherness and tradition.

Vishu Dress

In the case of Vishu, the festival of prosperity, people like new customary attire. The beginning of the new year is done in the style of gold jewelry, flowers of jasmine, and clean white dresses.

Kerala Folklore Dances and Culture Kerala Traditional Dress.

The performing arts in Kerala offer special approaches to clothing that determine the culture of the state. The traditional costumes of each artwork have their own traditional costumes.

Kathakali Dress

Kathakali costume is bright in colour, has layered skirts, wooden ornamentation, and heavy makeup around the face.

Mohiniyattam Dress

The dress worn is the Mohiniyatta, which is a feminine dress. It consists of a saree (white or off-white) with a golden border and pleats, which make it move easily.

Theyyam Dress

The costume of Theyyam is dramatic, including face paint, metal decorations, and huge headdresses. It is used to depict godly personalities when performing rituals inside temples.

Cloths and Fabrics in Kerala Traditional Clothes.

Traditional clothing of Kerala is largely composed of cotton-based clothing, which is great in the tropical environment of this state. Silk varieties are also used when it comes to weddings and festivals.

The majority of Kerala dresses have the color combination of white and gold, representing their simplicity and good fortune.

Kerala Fancy Clothes Different Community.

Even though the principle behind the Kerala dressing is the same, different communities introduce a twist between them. Rituals and weddings have slight differences between the Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities.

Hindu Community

Mundu and Jubba are worn by Hindu men, and Kasavu saree or Set Mundu are worn by women. These are the most used attire during temple visits or Onam celebrations.

Muslim Community

Muslim women wear company attire with long Kasavu hijabs over white dresses in Kerala. Men put a Mundu with a Kurta or a Sherwani, particularly in Eid and weddings.

Christian Community

The brides of Christians put on white sarees or gowns, normally adorned with golden embroidery. The grooms are also dressed in white Mundu and shirt, or official Western suits.

Adaptations of Kerala Traditional Dress in the Contemporary World.

Adding comfort to design is a preference of the young generation, as the original design cannot be modified. In the contemporary Kerala traditional dress, there are pastel tones, designer blouses, and anti-fusion dresses.

Kasavu saree gowns, half-saree, and even Kasavu lehengas are worn by women during weddings. Men wear Mundu with linen shirts and continue with the tradition in a modern manner.

Onam festivals unite people of all ages in it, even in workplaces, wearing the traditional dress of Kerala.

Conclusion

The Kerala traditional dress is a representative of the state's culture, plainness, as well as its pride. It is either it is the graceful Kasavu saree, a classy Set Mund, or just Mundu worn by men, whatever it is, each item has a story about tradition and identity. Kerala has kept the traditions going through clothes, and simplicity always has a way back.

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