User:Thorthu

Thorthu (aka. Torthu, Torttu, Torth, Thorth, Torthmundu, Torthumundu)

Thorthu is a small/medium or large sized thin cotton towel used mainly in Kerala. This soft piece of cotton cloth is ubiquitous in the state and is often used as either a bath-towel or an upper upper garment. Generally white or off-white in color, the thorth is composed of twin cotton fibers wowen into a rectangular cloth with a colored border or flag-mark called 'kara' or 'chutty'.



A common weakness shown both by women and men of Mallu origin is for the homespun towel called `thorthu.' An unavoidable part of travel comfort-wear the `thorthu' is proudly used by men as an `angavasthram' worn folded over the shoulder and by women as a `chunni' draped over both shoulders with the front hanging down to midriff.



When Mundu (white dhoti), blouse and thorthu (a medium sized cotton towel) unite together, it forms the fine attire of a rural Kerala woman. Until the very recent times, these three constituted the dress of a workingwoman or homemaker in rural Kerala. Even now, in most remote places, this dress code is preserved. The Mundu is a long piece of loincloth wound over an underskirt. It can either be white or coloured called lungi or kaili. A blouse that is normally used with a saree is worn with it. The thorthu or towel is used to cover the upper part of the body.