Kerala is a beautiful state both in terms of natural beauty and cultural values. The traditional roots are visible in their clothing and the unique style they choose to carry. The diverse clothing styles show purity and simplicity. Overall, the traditional dress of Kerala reflects the state’s religious diversity and cultural uniqueness.
In Kerala, the white colour is considered auspicious and a symbol of purity, serenity and simplicity that the Malayali culture is known for. During wedding ceremonies and festivals like Vishu and Onam, the state’s people make sure to wear their traditional dress. They control all the attention when they appear in white. Read on to find out more about Kerala’s traditional dress:
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Men
Mundu
The Mundu is a white garment with a golden border known as the “Kara.” Although this can be any colour, the Mundus worn at traditional events is adorned with a golden embroidered Kara. Keralan men occasionally tuck the lower ends of the Mundu into their waists after folding them.
Mundu is worn by draping a piece of cloth around one’s waist. A tight knot is tied around the waist of the cloth. The remaining fabric is permitted to fall to the man’s ankles. A type of mundu known as the Kasavu mundu is worn in rural areas. The fabric is thicker.
Only when the men are engaged in physically demanding activities, they wear the Mundu in this manner. They refrain from folding the Mundu when speaking to women or elders because it is considered a sign of disrespect. For a Keralean man, a colored mundu is a sort of casual clothes option.
Melmundu
Melmundu is put on the man’s upper body to cover it. It is an additional white garment that is draped over the shoulders. Keralan men still keep the custom of wearing the Mundu on the lower body, but they now cover their upper bodies with shirts instead of the Melmundu.
Jubba
Jubba is another type of upper-body clothing worn by Keralan men. It is made of silk and features a Kara that is either embroidered or adorned with gemstones of various colors.
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Women
“Mundum-Neriyathum” is the term for a traditional dress of Kerala for women. It combines two mundus, or pieces of cloth. The two garments are mostly cream or white in color. One dress is wrapped around the woman’s upper body, and the other is draped around her waist. Neriyathum is the name of the cloth that is used on the upper body.
While one end of the “Neriyathum” is designed to fit over the shoulders, the other end is tucked into the Mundu underneath. When worn together, the Mundum and Neriyathum have a saree-like appearance. Cotton Mundum-Neriyathum is used for everyday wear, but silk fabric with carefully embroidered borders is used for special occasions.
The colors of the borders are primarily maroon, red, or green. A fitted blouse is typically worn with the Mundum-Neriyathum. While it was customary to tuck one end of the Neriyathum into the blouse, it is now designed to drape like a pallu over the woman’s shoulders.
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Little & Teenage Girls
Keralan young and old girls dress traditionally in “pattu pavada.” This dress is made up of a blouse and a long skirt. Silk is the fabric used to make this dress. However, these days, this dress is only worn to formal events. The state’s young people wear a more relaxed, stylish, and cozy dress.
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Christians
The pleated Mundu is a unique style worn by Christian women in Kerala. They also dress in dresses, skirts, and tops. Keralan Christian men typically dress in shirts and pants, but they also follow tradition by dressing in Mundu shirts on different occasions.
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Muslims
Muslim men dress in Kerala’s traditional Mundu and Jubba, but they also wear the Kulla, a traditional cap that sets them apart from the state’s Hindu men. They even cover their upper bodies with kurtas or shirts, while they mainly wear Mundu for their lower bodies. Though some of them wear a blue or black burkha, Muslim women also embrace Kerala’s traditional women’s dress.
Traditional Dress of Kerala for Bride and Groom
Bride
Kerala’s bridal attire is distinctive and worthy of recognition. A Kerala bride turns into a symbol of elegance and beauty when she wears the wedding gown. The bride typically accessorizes her ethereal appearance with gold jewelry and dresses in pastel cream or white.
Kerala brides used to wear flashy gold ornaments decades ago, but these days they love wearing subtle jewelry made of gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, rubies, and other gemstones. Some Hindu Kerala brides accessorize their stunning, heavy Kanchipuram sarees with traditional gold jewelry and floral hairstyles.
Made from premium mulberry silk, these South Indian silk sarees are adorned with golden threadwork, Zardosi, or Kundan all over. They typically come in vibrant colors like orange, maroon, and magenta.
Other religious brides also have a unique look. Traditionally, Christian brides from Kerala would dress in a white silk saree and white blouse. However, as times have changed, they now wear white gowns with veils and hold bouquets in their hands. To finish off their looks, they accessorize with thin jewellery. The Muslim bride from Kerala wears traditional dresses.
She typically wears a stunning silk saree with a richly crafted border and a lot of embroidery. She completes her look with a lot of makeup as well. To give her outfit a more traditional look, a golden veil is also added to her trousseau. According to their family customs, some Muslim brides from Kerala will wear purdah, while others will choose to wear a silk lehenga.
Religions may have different outfits but the basic traditional dress of Kerala for women are same.
Groom
Keralan grooms usually dress in a suit or a traditional shirt and Mundu. The Muslim groom often wears a heavily embroidered Sherwani or a white Mundu, while the Christian groom typically dons a suit and blazer.
Read More about Traditional Dress of West Bengal Here.
Conclusion
The traditional dress of Kerala shows how deeply the culture and diversity is rooted. From wearing graceful Mundum-Neriyathum for women to decent Mundu for men, every outfit tells a story of their culture. Further, the different communities and religions showcase a seamless blend of Kerala culture and their own identities.
