Dhoti Kurta, used to be the traditional outfit of India, that’s hardly used in the recent times. Mainly made of cotton or Khadi material it was the most commonly used garment by men till pre-independence. Dhoti was tied below waist and Kurta as the shirt. Decade after decade since Independence there has been a gradual fall in the use of Dhoti. Kurta is still worn together with pyjama or jeans but Dhoti is lost in the new look of India.
Thanks to Hindi cinema, in 1980-90s there was a fad for Dhoti amongst young men and Dhoti dress for the girls. This lasted for a few years and once again it was forgotten. Now, its use is limited to some politicians, Tiffin service guys more popularly known as Dabbawalas, cobblers or by elderly men. Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi was always seen in a Dhoti.
The best thing about Dhoti is it’s not a stitched outfit and hence gives ample space at the knee area. This makes it extremely comfortable for the user to sit on the floor. Secondly, it’s made of a light material which makes it the right choice for people exposed to hot Indian weather. Last but not the least, its not expensive and yet lasts a long time.
For all these reasons, it was a preferred way of clothing until Independence however things changed after that. People stopped sitting on the floor, started to eat on table and sit on couch; had ways to cope with the heat, with more money to spend and most importantly more options to choose from, resulting in the downfall of the traditional Dhoti Kurta.