Lungi
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This article does not cite any references or sources. (July 2012) |
The lungi (Bengali: লুঙ্গি, Hindi: लुंगी, Sindhi: لنگی, Telugu: లుంగీ, Oriya: ଲୁଙ୍ଗି, Kannada: ಪನ್ಛಎ, Malayalam: ലുങ്കി, Tamil: லுங்கி), also known as a sarong, is a traditional garment worn around the waist in Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Burma, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, the Horn of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula. It is particularly popular in regions where the heat and humidity create an unpleasant climate for trousers.
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Design [edit]
Unlike dhutis, which are linear like sheets, lungis are sewn into a tube shape like a skirt. They are especially worn in hot regions. There are also cheaper "open" lungis, in identical dimensions but not sewn into a tube shape. The standard adult lungi is 115 cm in height and 200 cm in length, when open. Children's lungis are available in approximately 2/3 of this size. They are normally woven from cotton and come in a variety of designs and colors. Silk lungis are available for ceremonial purposes such as weddings. The most common styles are either solid-colored or plaid, reflecting the relative ease and cost-effectiveness of producing these patterns on a power loom. Blue is particularly popular, since it fades to pleasant tones in contrast to other colors. Regardless of the design or color, lungis are often lined at the top and bottom with a black/white stripe containing reinforced weaving to prevent fraying.
Usage [edit]
Depending on local tradition, lungis can be worn by men and/or women. They are tied or fastened in various ways, and can be used in different cultural activities, ranging from normal daily life to elaborate wedding ceremonies. For daily purposes, a simple "double twist" knot is most popular, where two points in the upper edge of lungi are brought together and twisted around twice, with the ends tucked in at the waist. However, it is also common for wearers to simply tie a double "pretzel knot" from 2 points on the upper border, which produces a more secure knot. The lungi's length can also be adjusted, for example, by tucking in the lungi at the waist to make it resemble a short skirt.
Regional variations [edit]
Bangladesh [edit]
The lungi (Bengali: লুঙ্গি /luŋɡi/) is the most commonly seen dress of Bangladeshi men, although it is not normally worn on formal occasions. In Bangladesh, lungis are worn by men, almost universally indoors and commonly outdoors as well. Elaborately designed tartan cotton, batik, or silk lungis are also often presented as wedding gifts to the groom in a Bangladeshi wedding. The typical Bangladeshi lungi is a seamless tubular shape, as opposed to the single sheet worn in other parts of South and Southeast Asia. In Bangladesh, the lungi industry is concentrated in Sirajganj, Kustia, Khulna. Bangladeshi women do not traditionally wear lungis, although non-Bengali tribal women do wear similar garments in some parts of southeastern Bangladesh.
In April 2013, Baridhara housing Society - a housing society in Dhaka - banned lungi, and began refusing entry to those who wore them. However, many opposed the ban, taking to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to criticise the decision. A march took place on 13th April to oppose the ban.
Meanwhile, U.S Ambassador Dan W. Mozina has been seen wearing a lungi in front of his house.[1]
Indonesia [edit]
In Indonesia, there is also a popular garment like Lungi, it is called Sarung in Indonesia. Indonesians mostly use Sarung when religious events and is well known through the traditional fashion of Indonesia. Sarung also has many kind of artistic designs in Indonesia, such as Batik, plain colours, square like shapes and Samarindan Batik from Kalimantan (Borneo). In traditional Javanese language, it is also known as Kain meaning fabric, and is the most popular wear through Indonesia especially in Sumatra, Java and Bali.
Myanmar [edit]
In Myanmar, the lungi is called longyi in Burmese. For men, the lungi is known as a paso (Burmese: ပုဆိုး), and for women, it is known as a htamain (Burmese: ထဘီ). Lungis of different fabrics, including cotton and silk, are worn for informal and formal occasions.
Somalia [edit]
In Somalia, the lungi sarong is referred to as a macawis. It is commonly worn by Somali men as casual wear. The traditional color of the macawis is plain white. However, due to trade with the Southeast Asian islands and the Indian subcontinent as well as the location of Somalia on the Spice Route, colourful Southeast Asian-style lungis have been introduced to the country.
India [edit]
In India, the customs behind wearing lungis vary by state.
In Kerala, As said by Lungi K. Lal, all time Lungi Legend - the lungi, generally colourful, and available in varying designs, is worn by both men and women. Physical laborers use it as a working dress. A Kerala dhoti in plain white, known as mundu, often bears a golden embroidery, especially in the border length, known as kasavu, which is worn on ceremonial occasions like weddings, festive occasions, etc. Saffron-coloured mundus are also known as kaavi munde. The men generally tuck up their mundus(Kerala dhoti) or lungis with the bottom of the garment being pulled up and tied back on to the waist. This would mean that the mundu (Kerala dhoti) or lungi only covers the body from the waist to the knees.
In Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, only men wear this garment, which is not worn in a fashion similar to that of men in Kerala - while Keralites tie it at the RIGHT side the Tamilians tie it to their LEFT. Note - Some of the Muslim communities in Kerala also tie mundu to their LEFT. It is also known as Kaili or Saaram/Chaaram in South Tamil Nadu. The Muslims of Tamil Nadu are found to favor the white colored lungis on formal occasions.
In Karnataka this is custom followed by village side peoples to wear it regularly. And it is also must wear for the marriage occasion, where bride and groom fathers and the groom himself has to wear white panche. Where higher class peoples go for costly pure silk panche in the marriage occasion.
In Punjab (both Pakistani and Indian portions), lungis are worn by both men and women. They are part of traditional dance attire in Bhangra dance groups, but are also popular in rural areas or as home wear. They are generally tied in a different way then in other parts of India and are, as a rule, unstitched and often very colourful.
In Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal lungi is primarily home wear for males of all classes of society. Hindu men generally avoid wearing lungis on the street.
In Odisha Sambalpuri with Sambalpuri pattern and mule based lungis from Khordha are available in addition to normal cotton fabric lungis.
In Haryana it is considered a night dress for men.
Yemen [edit]
In Yemen, the garment is called a Futah and is worn by males of all ages.
Oman [edit]
In Oman, the garment is called an Izaar. A white Izaar is worn underneath the Thobe and coloured Izaar maybe worn by fishermen and during times of menial labour without Thobe. Sometimes a shorter knee long Izaar is worn on top of the other as part of traditional dance attire.
Saudi Arabia [edit]
In Saudi Arabia, the garment is called an Izaar. The tribes people of the southwestern regions like Asir generally wear their own weaved Izaar, similar to those used by tribes in Northern Yemen. They are often black in colour, unstitched and may have tassels. Other Saudis may wear imported Bangladeshi, Indian or Indonesian plaid or striped izaars as a comfortable home wear or for sleeping. It is common in coastal areas. It is also worn by fishermen.
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore [edit]
In these regions the Malay wear the Sarong, which also similar to the Lungee. However, the term Lungi is not used.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Priyo Photo share a moment! (2012-12-30). "US Ambassador Mozena | Priyo Photo". Photo.priyo.com. Retrieved 2013-05-03.
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