It's a LOON-gee not a LOO-gee

For your viewing pleasure here is a picture of Aaron with our friend Caleb last month. Caleb came to spend a couple days with us since he was in a nearby city. Being the adventurous and exciting manly men that they are, Aaron and Caleb decided to buy and sport lungis (pronounced loon-gee).

Many villagers as well as laborers wear a lungi everyday. Where we live the middle and upper class men only wear them as pajamas or house clothes. This is all Aaron is allowed to wear his lungi for.

A lungi is basically a 3' x 6' (approximately) piece of plaid cloth that is wrapped around the back with the ends in the front. The ends are folded into pleats and then the pleated ends are tied together. It is quite comfortable and cool.

Cousin Paul, do not worry, we have a lungi for you!

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In an effort to further culture you the reader and make sure that you are South Asian culture savvy, I am including The Song of the Lungi.

The Song of the Lungi

When in white, you are my formal wear.
When in design, you are a festival!
What good are those trousers?!

If I wrap you around my head,
you become a turban.
You are a blanket if I am cold.
And a sail when the wind is good.

After I play in the sea,
you become my towel.
A flag when I wave
A trap to catch the mango!

Ready for Cricket when I fold you in half,
Ready for hanging when I twist you as a rope
ready as bed when I'm struck at fairs

You become a shawl when I need modesty
and a carrying bag during a loot.

The trousers are no good!

Inspired by the "Trousers are no Good!" folksong, which in turn is inspired by the classic "Neenarigadeyo Ele Manava" (the humans are no good).

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Differences between a Dhoti, Lungi, Veshti etc.

While a lot of people use these terms interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the terms. The Dhotar or Dhoti is made from very fine cotton and is much longer in length than a Veshti or Mundu, which are not designed to run between the legs. One can go to a wedding in a Dhoti, but never in a Lungi. The Lungis and Mandu can be worn in a half fold.

The following table lists the differences between each of the types of unstitched clothing worn by men in India around the waist.

Lungi	Colors	Type of Attire
Dhotar or Dhoti	White	Formal Wear
Mundu, Veshti	White	Formal Wear
Lungi	Colored, Checkered or Flowery	Informal Wear, Nightwear
Half Lungi	no limit	Work outfit
Panji or Panche	White	Ritual wear, Nightwear
Pitambar	Red or Orange	Ritual wear