Malayali's Trademark

The mundu (Malayalam: മുണ്ട്; pronounced [muɳɖɨ]) is a garment worn around the waist in the Indian states of Kerala, the Tulu Nadu region of Karnataka, and the Indian Ocean island nation of Maldives. It is closely related to the dhoti, sarong, and lungi. In South Kanara, a district of Karnataka state, the Tulu speaking folk and Beary community also wear the mundu.

It is normally woven in cotton and coloured white or cream. The colour is dependent on whether the cotton is bleached or unbleached. A khaddar mundu is made using handlooms. When unbleached, the mundu is called "neriyathu". In modern times, two types of mundu are prevalent—the single and the double. A single mundu is draped once around the waist, while the double is folded in half before draping. A mundu is usually starched before use.