A little bulge helps keep the thing up!
kssr wrote:I have been wearing (wrapping) the veshti from time immemorial. I am yet to fathom as to how to keep it tightly tied, without the aid of a belt. There is always the risk of its slipping down/ falling off. Secondly while crossing your legs for sitting down or in a chair, there is the risk of exposing the thigh (a serious offense in case of men!). The second problem is partially overcome by me by using a 9 muzham veshti.
I can understand this in those youngsters who don (and even have to borrow) a vesti only for occasional family or temple functions where they feel it is required, but I am surprised to hear it from one of my senior rasikas!
If you must wear silk, then yes, it will slip, but cotton (unless it is brand new and stiff) will stay all day.
This is what I realised about vestis and belts:
--- no belt: easy to adjust, or even retie. Even in mid-road with a Chennai bus heading for you!
--- belt: even if it comes a bit loose, you have to take the belt off and do the whole thing from scratch. You won't escape the bus.
I find no problem of accidental exposure when sitting in a chair. One can also adjust for temperature, by the adjust whether the left side, the right side, or both, are over the legs or allowed to fall between. Sitting cross-legged, though, is more problematic, especially for long periods, such as those spent by a musician on stage.
I have never got the hang of the between-the-legs dhoti wrap and, so far, I have never tried the stitched lungi.
When walking with the vesti hoisted to knee hight, Kerala men have a way of tying it up that is very neat and also doesn't fall. I have yet to perfect that technique.
Pyjamas are the worst of both worlds. No fly; a pain when in the toilet.
Whether these things are taken account of in awarding the Sangita Kalanidhi, it would appear that, within the next 25 years, the MA might have to include them in the Season lecture series!