Traditional Dress Of Kerala | Men & Women
Kerala, a state in India, is famous, especially for its lush green landscape and coastline. It experiences a feeling of peace and purity that comes to the forefront when someone sees the individuals of the state of Kerala in white attire. They wear dresses that are in soft colors; the traditional dress of Kerala’s famous clothes is the “Mundu”, which is a unisex dress originally worn as a short dress. It bears a resemblance to a dhoti or long skirt as well, and the upper attire varies with gender and age.
Traditional Dress Of Kerala Woman: “Mundum-Neriyathum”
The Kerala dress for women is Mundum-Neriyathum. The traditional piece is Mundum, which is low cloth and has 2 pieces of cotton cloth. Mundum is worn around their hips but below their navel.
The piece of cloth is white or creamy in color, and thus it possesses a colored stripe called Kara or border. Females of Kerala state wear the Mundu in various styles from females of the Christian family. Neriyathum is basically the name of an upper garment of the classical Kerala dress culture. Women of Kerala place it over the blouse, with one end tied in a Mundum and the other end worn over the torso.
Women of Kerala wear this in a diagonal manner so that it looks like a Kerala sari. They wear it in such a way that it goes from their right hip to their left shoulder. The color of the blouse reflects the age of the females of Kerala and the marital status of females of Kerala. Unmarried young Malayali girls wear green blouses while married women wear red blouses. This is the traditional dress code of Kerala for girls. For any festival or occasion, there are Kasavu Nerathu and Kasavu Mundu. These are tremendously delicate and pure cotton handloom dresses, which are specially fitted with golden threads.
Kasavu Saree
The Kasavu Saree is Kerala’s most famous traditional attire for women.
It is usually:
- White or cream
- Decorated with golden borders
- Made from cotton or silk
- Lightweight
- Elegant
Women wear this saree during:
- Onam
- Vishu
- Weddings
- Temple visits
- Cultural festivals
The simplicity of the kasavu saree is what makes it so attractive.
Settu Mundu
The Settu Mundu (also called Mundum Neriyathum) is one of Kerala’s oldest traditional garments.
It consists of two separate pieces of cloth:
- Lower garment (Mundu)
- Upper drape (Neriyathu)
Before stitched blouses became common, women traditionally draped the upper cloth in different styles.
Today, many women pair the settu mundu with stylish blouses.
Kerala Saree
The Kerala Saree is another variation of the kasavu saree.
It features:
- Cream-colored body
- Golden zari border
- Minimalistic elegance
Modern designers have introduced colorful borders while maintaining the traditional essence.
Pavada
Young girls traditionally wear the Pavada, a long flowing skirt paired with a blouse.
The outfit is colorful and comfortable.
Girls wear pavadas during:
- Festivals
- School functions
- Temple visits
- Family celebrations
Pavada-Davani
Teenage girls often wear the Pavada-Davani, also known as the half-saree.
It consists of:
- Long skirt
- Blouse
- Decorative dupatta
It serves as a transition from childhood clothing to the saree.
Bridal Dress in Kerala
Kerala brides traditionally wear exquisite kasavu sarees or silk sarees.
Their attire includes:
- Kasavu saree
- Gold jewelry
- Jasmine flowers
- Traditional hairstyle
- Temple jewelry
Christian brides often wear elegant white gowns while maintaining Kerala-inspired jewelry and hairstyles.
Muslim brides wear richly embroidered sarees, lehengas, or salwar suits depending on family traditions.
Traditional Dress of Kerala For Males: Mundu
Malayali males are way more conservative than females of Kerala, and their classical dress is Mundu (just like women). They wear this as a long dress. Men of Kerala usually wear it at the waist and reaching the ankle. Many men wear no cloth above the waist, but those of the upper castes at least wrap a towel-like cloth over the shoulders.
The traditional garment of the Hindu Kerala male dress is Kasava Mundu. This dress is very popular in rural or remote areas. This Kerala dressing features a piece of cloth, which is of silk material and is 3 to 4 meters long from the silk border. Men also wear lungi or kelly, which serve as an informal dress.
But on the way out of the house, the men put on a shirt and wrap a Mundu around their waist. And take Neriyathum above their shoulders and apply a paste of slippers on their chest and eyebrows, which gives them a very dignified appearance and a royal look.
Mundu:
The Mundu is the most iconic traditional dress of kerala man garment, worn by men in Kerala. It is a rectangular piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and extends to the ankles.
The mundu resembles a dhoti but has its own distinctive style.
Features of Mundu
- Usually white or cream in color
- Made from fine cotton
- Lightweight and breathable
- Comfortable in Kerala’s tropical weather
- Easy to wear
The mundu is folded upward while walking or working and lowered during formal occasions.
Kasavu Mundu
The Kasavu Mundu is a ceremonial version of the regular mundu.
Its main feature is the beautiful golden border woven along the edges.
Kasavu mundu is commonly worn during:
- Onam
- Vishu
- Weddings
- Temple festivals
- Religious ceremonies
It symbolizes dignity, prosperity, and cultural pride.
Melmundu
The Melmundu is a cloth draped over the shoulders along with the mundu.
It is worn during formal occasions and religious functions.
Traditionally, respectable men would cover their upper body with a melmundu while attending temples or ceremonies.
Shirt and Mundu Combination
Modern Kerala men often pair the traditional mundu with:
- White cotton shirt
- Cream-colored shirt
- Silk shirt
- Kurta
This combination creates a sophisticated yet traditional appearance.
Kurta with Mundu
During weddings and festivals, many men prefer wearing embroidered kurtas with kasavu mundu.
This fusion of traditional and contemporary fashion has become increasingly popular among younger generations.
Jubba
The Jubba is a long, loose-fitting shirt worn with the mundu.
It is especially popular among elderly men and during religious gatherings.
BOTTOM LINE:
Nowadays, Western culture has affected individuals much the same as the remainder of India, and individuals have begun wearing Western garments like shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, and so on. Be that as it may, at whatever point any religious occasion, a wedding ceremony, or some other capacity is commended. They ensure that customs are followed, and individuals wear only the customary clothing types. The individuals of Kerala still safeguard the way of life.
FAQs:
Q. What Is The Traditional Dress Of Kerala Male and Female?
A. Dressed in soft colors, the classical outfit of Kerala is the Mundu, a unisex dress originally worn as a short dress. It resembles a long skirt or dhoti, and the upper garment varies with age and gender. To know more about the traditional dress of Kerala, read more here.
Q. What Is The Traditional Dress Of Men In Kerala?
A. The classical dress worn by the women of Kerala is Mundam Neritham. Kerala’s traditional attire is Mundu, which is a low cloth and has 2 pieces of cotton cloth. Mundu is worn around the hips and below the navel. To know more about this, read more here…
Q. What Is The Kerala Traditional Dress For Ladies?
A. Malayali men are more conservative than women, and their classical dress is also mundu, which they wear as long dresses worn at the waist and reaching the ankle. To know more about this, read more here…