What is the traditional dress of the South?
Conventional attire The sari is usually worn by South Indian ladies, while men wear a form of sarong, which can be either a white dhoti or a colorful lungi with distinctive batik patterns. Because it is an unstitched drape, the saree highlights the wearer's figure while just partially concealing the belly. For those who cannot afford a sari, a shawl or dupatta may be used in its place. The traditional dress of the South has been influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism. Women wear saris, which are long, straight strips of cloth, usually made of cotton but also available in other materials such as silk and linen. Traditionally, women wore only one piece of clothing from head to foot; today, they are likely to wear several pieces under the main garment. For men, the traditional dress consists of a single piece of cloth that covers the body from neck to knee. This piece of clothing is called a "sarong". Today, many people in the South prefer to wear pants instead of a sarong. These are usually dark colored trousers with a bright color pattern on the leg opening and pocket flaps. Saris and sarongs were originally intended to be worn once and then thrown away. However, today they are often kept for multiple wears because they are so easy to clean and maintain.