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Onnara

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Onnara is a traditional form of underwear for women[1][2] of all ages mostly worn among Hindu women in Kerala (the southernmost state of India). Onnara is a dothi (sarong) tied in such a way that it is tight, and cannot be accidentally released.

Specifications

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A cotton (handloom) cloth of size 6 muzham × 3 muzham (1 muzham = 1.5 ft approximately) is used to drape around the waist, in a particular style under the outer garment (pavada, saree, or mundu).

Other names

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Onnara is also called thaar in some parts of the state. The word is more often used in the southern part of Kerala; onnara is mostly a northern Kerala usage. However, there are certain differences in wearing thaar compared to onnara. The style of wearing thaar is simpler than that of onnara and there are different types of thaar.

References

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  1. Das, Kamala (1 September 2009). A Childhood In Malabar: A Memoir. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-152-1.
  2. Weisbord, Merrily (30 September 2010). The Love Queen of Malabar: Memoir of a Friendship with Kamala Das. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-7735-8141-8.