Uma could not make a clear distinction. I did show her Mrs.Jeyamma's comment about the mundu-thurthu distinction. I made an explanation on this to Uma. She listened to me carefully, and finally I asked her : ".. is this right ? ... " . She said "yes... ofcourse ... But Maamma, the problem is not really the distinction, its about the coloquial terminology ...". However, I thought I must make an attempt to clarify, the way I understand. So ......
"Thaar mundu" is a full sized, single ply mundu. It may be 'mulmul' type or handwoven (handloom). Mulmul cloth is not preferred, as it is polished, and does not stay tight. It gets loose quickly, on its glazed finish. The absorption properties are poor. However, ladies in central Travancore use it, even now. { This will necessitate the lady to tighten up her thaar frequently}.
Handloom mundu is preferred, as it has the grip (non-glazed) and so retains the tightness. The absorption properties are very good.
Thaar mundu is full sized. The width extends from waist level to the feet. Therefore, to wear the thaar, the mundu is worn with 'njori' at the waist level (which would extend now upto the ankle, below the knee level) while waist is tucked in. This , however, makes the thaar comfortable at waist level ( with wider band like fit at waist). Rest of the wearing is common. When worn, the triangular tips of the thaar will extend almost down to the ankles. For some, the tips are visible when she walks.
"Thaar thorthu" is a shorter version of the mundu. It's full long, but less wide. It's only of handloom (though some ladies, I have seen, make a low width thorthu of mulmul). When worn, it extends from waist down to the knee level. The cloth being thinner (than the mulmul), it's more comfortable. The greatest advantage is that the thaar, when worn, won't be visible below the knees. However, it's too tight at waist level, as much 'njori' won't be there.
This is the most common among ladies who go out. {At home, it doesn't matter, the tips being seen ! }. Uma uses this kind.
I invite all my readers interested in this to look at my earlier posts, with pictures of the thaar thorthu.
And regarding 'Onnara mundu'. It's the same as thaar mundu {as far as the Travancore style is concerned}.
5 comments:
Sir,The idea is almost clear;but I have a different note on mallumundu-in middle Kerala,very soft and absorbing type mallu of shorter width is in use as tharmundu-mostly worn by working class women;some middle aged school teachers also use the same type tightly around the waist.
I have tried several times to wear a thorthmundu as thar. But not possible as the mundu is veryshort. So please give some suggestions to wear a thorthmundu as thar, as it will be much convenient. My colleges are using thorth much as thar, they were telling it wont visible, just like a small panty only. So please give some photos, or clear instrructions how to wear a thorthmundh as thar.
Daily practice is very important .
firstly a women should instruct you to how to wear onnara .
I am a boy sstudyingnin 12 th. In Kerala I one tried onnaramundu since then I used. To weaar onnaramundu in my home and while going out while wearing pants also. I even go to my neighbourhood wearing onnaramundu and I don't find this odd in the Least because wwe would wear what we feel comfortable though I am a male I like to wear onnaramundu as my underwear and I don't fell it odd now I am wondering that why haven't the men used it and why you lovely ladies left the practice of wearing it my opinion is that we gotta roll back out dressing pattern to the traditional Indian ones so ladies and gentlemen stop those worst jettiea and panties start wearing. Onnaramundu . see some yeas back say 100 only least person had infertility bu now almost all are suffering from it it is all due to out switching from old to new dresses
I am a married woman of 19yrs. My father was from a kerala and from a reputed Christian family. Now we live in north east of india. My husband is a tribal guy. One day my husband and I when going through about kerala in web we found a fouram and a a word onnaramundu. I asked my mother about onnaramundu. She could not exactly explained what is that. As she moved from kerala to northeast at a very young age with my father. After reading this fouram and antareeyam I want to wear my father's native traditional lingare. But no body here knows how to wear. After that I searched youtube. But no onnaramundu as thaar video not found. Fortunately I found a video in youtube and I tried a cloth as shown in the video ? I would like to appriciate if any body can tell me is this the way to wear thaar tightly.
https://youtu.be/q2uafesYixM
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