Thaar (Thar) : is the name of a desert. In Rajasthan. The great Thaar desert !
Thar : is also the name of an animal, something like the goat. The Thaars (Varayadukal) at the Munnar hills.
But the Thaar I am now talking to you about, is a lingerie worn with a simple piece of cotton cloth (please see earlier posts). It's about 2 x 1 metre in size. But as many puts it, it's not just a piece of cloth, but is extremely erotic and so is beautiful.
Thaar is the simple and humble under garment worn by some of the Hindu Keralite women. Women of castes like Nair, Namboothiri, and their sub-sects (and Thiyyas of North Malabar too, I am told) wear the Thaar. So, Thaar is a malayalee lingerie.
Thaar is the traditional under-garment of these groups of Keralites. That's how Thaar is “Kerala’s own (God's own) under-garment”.
Kerala is highly adaptive to the modern world and its developments. So also, Kerala had adopted all the developments (changes) in the garments and fashion. The youth of Kerala is a fast changing society. This, however, made dramatic and total changes in the life styles and so the garments. The old is replaced by the western new. One such garment that is now ‘forgotten’ by the youth is the ‘Thaar’ or 'Onnara'. However, some of the Malayalis, who are not that fast – who uphold the traditions – have not ignored the Thaar (among a few such elements).
As you would know, the modern (allopathic) medicines/system has almost uprooted our ancient and traditional Ayurveda system. However, you know that , Ayurveda is making a comeback. This is true in the case of Keralite garments and styles too. Not all is forgotten. Some people are still interested and value the old. We are getting back our "kudummi" and "kadukkan" ! The youth are embracing them for a change... for a fashionable change. Thaar is one among those.
{ Please remember that Thaar is also referred to as “Onnara”, in some parts of Kerala.}
{ Please remember that Thaar is also referred to as “Onnara”, in some parts of Kerala.}
Thaar is worn by women of all ages. Girls at their puberty are introduced to wearing the thaar. Draping the thaar is simple, but looks complex to those not used to. I shall show you some photos of wearing the thaar (later !).
The good and bad of Thaar.
Thaar is not just an undergarment. It does a lot good ! (unlike the panties, which only serves to hold the sanitary pad !). I shall list a few of the good of Thaar / Onnara.
In addition to its simple ( vaginal-)protection, the Thaar is an excellent body shaper. The thaar, worn correctly, regularly shapes the body. It holds the butts bulbous, pulls the thighs, and keeps the vaginal and anal openings tightly closed. It holds the abdominal and vaginal muscles. Many gaenacologists suggest the thar as an excellent method of preventing the uterine prolapse.
And more importantly, the thaar is an erotic element. It adds sex-appeal. The shape, the corners on the thighs/legs, the bow shaped pull at the back, and the tuck, makes it exciting to the male mind.
The thaar is to be worn tight. If loose, it doesn’t give its physical goodness, or advantages.
There are arguments against the thaar too. The main points are :
It’s difficult to wear, and requires expertise for the right fit.
There’s a projection (of the tuck) at the rear, and so the looks are not flat and clean.
It is too tight fitting. The tightness may be uncomfortable.
It loosens by the body movements.
Thaar is totally incompatible to the modern dress. (Churidaar, Jeans, Midi, …)
It’s inconvenient during the periods.
It’s not convenient during travel.
And so on ..
There are views against these, and suggests ways to overcome the drawbacks. A more balanced view, taking into consideration of the expertise of those wearing thaar regularly, can be helpful.
In fact, it is easy to wear, you need a few days’ practice.
Being cotton, it absorbs the sweat in the waist region and discharges (if any) from the vagina. This keeps the waist and around dry. This keeps away any fungus infections (normally due to the wetness).
The tucking and the projection is not revealed, with mundu, saree, night gown, pyjamas, or churidar. (However, with only ottamundu, its fully revealing…!).
The tightness of the thaar is comfortable, if you are regular (discomforts, if atall any, are for a couple of days only).
Thaar is an excellent body shaper. (Girls, please listen !). It reduces the waist line, makes the buttocks (kundikal) roundish (bulbous).
Its compatible with many dress types (uthareeyam), and almost all home-wears (except the jeans, mini, midi, or such short tight dress). It is perfectly Ok with churidars (I know personally, many girls have it, even when going out).
During the periods too, its quite safe (being fully absorbent). Keeping clean is the concern.
Thaar gets loosened with the body movements and work. But one or two clips (safety pins) can simply solve the problem (though not the best solution). Alternately, the knot at the ends (tucked in well) can keep thaar in good fit, and it looks, is the best technique.
No darkening of skin around the waste (being non-nylon, and being not rope-tight like).
During travel too, its quite Ok, if worn under the right uthareeyam. Take safety measures for loosening the thaar (to be confident !).
How to wear a Thaar.
( I shall put some pictures… as and when someone helps ! However, I shall put some descriptions in the coming days...)
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2 comments:
I came to see this blog by chance and thought of sharing my experience with this wonderful inner-wear of malayalee woman of certain sects. I hail from a community which is not used to this form of wear and had no idea of its plus and minus. Being a city/town-bred girl, I also had the mistaken notion that it is an old fashioned/country-type style. I still remember, how we used to mock and rag a village girl who used this style of under-garment in the hostel and the poor thing had to abandon her age-old habit. But some strange situation forced me to turn to this style of under-garment which practice I have not stopped even now. A few years back, I developed some itching on my inner thighs and was finding it difficult to use the usual panties. Even I have to dare to go to the office without anything underneath. During this time, I thought about this traditional ONNARA; but I had no knowledge of weraing it properly. Luckily, my maid had some knowledge of it ( though she herself doesn't consider it as fashinable ) and taught me how to use it. Honestly, it gave me such a comforting feeling while sitting at work in the office that I thought that I should have started this practice from young days. The only problem, it has is the tail portion tucked at the back will come out easily. ( Lot of women are averse to this only because of it). But I solved this problem with the help of a safety pin and there is absolutely no fear of it loosening out. For the past so many years, I am using this style and I have never faced any problem. Now a days, I cannot think of using panties any more and even with churidar I have no problem in using this style. After my marriage, my husband had some difficulty in understanding this type of under-garment since our community never used this. But when he came to know about the advantages of this, he also started loving it. Since, it keeps the private parts clean and dry, men really love it. Even it is an inducement for them to experience oral sex.
Thank you anonymous lady !
May I request you to write more on your experiences with thaar ? I am sure everyone would be interested.
And, let me be very frank ... I am surprised at your discovery. It's true that certain things are discovered over again by people.. when a need arises. Let us tell our ladies that this is one adaptable straight. One doesn't have to rediscover.
And about the use of safety pins to lock the ends.. The knot technique is safer than the pin. The pin has the disadvantage (risk) of opening up by itself, particularly when the thaar is tight. But the knot is quite safe and comfortable.
With best wishes... on behalf of Uma too !
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