Veshti

A veshti[1] (Tamil: வேட்டி), also known as vēṭṭi, is a white unstitched cloth wrap for the lower body in Tamil Nadu and in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Vēṭṭi is a part of the traditional attire consisting of Kurta and Angvastra. The garment is a single piece of cloth and similar to the dhoti, one of the earliest draped garments of India. A vēṭṭi is often layered with horizontal stripes or borders across its length.

Tamil Brahmins (Iyers and Iyengars) in traditional veshti and angavastram at a convention of the Mylai Tamil Sangam, circa 1930s

Style

Like many wrap clothes, the vēṭṭi varies in wearing style. It is often simply wrapped around the waist, secured by a corner being tucked beneath the wrapped cloth. It is also worn as Sarong, unlike dhoti, which is looped between the legs.[2] A belt is also used over it (less popular now) just below the closing.[3]

Men and women both wear it. For women, the drape is known as vēṭṭi -mundu.[3][4]

Political identity

Various border (Saffron, red, green, and blue) colors of vēṭṭi represent different political parties' identities in India.[2][5]

See also

References
  1. Dhotis, Rhythm (2020). "What is veshti and What it is made of?". Rhythm Dhotis.
  2. Dasgupta, Reshmi R. "Cocktail Conversations: Veshti Vs Dhoti". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  3. Saris: An Illustrated Guide to the Indian Art of Draping. Shakti Press International. 1997. pp. 30, 32. ISBN 978-0-9661496-1-6.
  4. Anawalt, Patricia Rieff (2007). The Worldwide History of Dress. Thames & Hudson. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-500-51363-7.
  5. Kannangara, Nisar (2019-06-01). "The politics of clothing in postcolonial Indian democracy". Clothing Cultures. 6 (2): 237–247. doi:10.1386/cc_00014_1. S2CID 219279532.

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