Indian Accessories

Set mundu is the traditional attire worn by the women of Kerala, a southern Indian state. It is two pieces of cloth in the form of a sari with white or cream color.

The lower piece, usually hand woven, is known as ‘Mundu and the upper piece, lighter than the mundu, as ‘Neriyathu. The style of wearing them involves much care and complication.

Set mundu also requires a blouse similar to a sari blouse. Both men and women wear mundu. The mundu is worn below the navel and around the hips and tied firmly. The neriyathu is worn in the same way as the upper portion of the sari. One end of the neriyathu is tucked in the left side of the mundu. Then wrap material fully around the waist from left to right. Bring the remainder of the neriyathui up under right arm and drape over the left shoulder such that the edge falls to about knee level just like sari pallu. Using a small safety pin, fasten the left shoulder portions of the neriyathu and blouse together to prevent it from falling from the shoulder.

Set mundu has many varieties. One such variety of set mundu has brocade along the edges known as ‘kasavu’, Sometimes this golden brocade is laced with ordinary cotton thread of contrasting bright colors known as ‘kasavu kara’(border). Usually, set mundu with ‘kasavu’ is worn on special occasions. Otherwise, people prefer to wear ‘mundu’ without ‘kasavu’ since they are cheaper.

Today set mundu is worn by old women of Kerala and it is replaced by set sari consisting only of a single piece of material. Kerala women wear set sari only on festive occasion and religious functions. The accompanying accessories are jasmine garland on the hair and gold jewels on the neck and wrists.

The Christian women wear the mundu differently with the pleats hanging out at the back and a long white blouse (chatta) and a Neriyadhu over their upper body.