Christian wear

Kerala and the Syrian Christians

The Syrian Christian women of Kerala, also called Nasranis, traditionally wear the chatta and mundu, a short white blouse with a lace or embroidered back and a white or cream cloth wrapped at the waist and fanned at the back. The chatta often has fine lace and is worn with a kavani or a saree. The Kerala sari, a cream or white saree with a gold kasavu border, is worn by many Christian women, including for church, Easter and the wedding. Many Christian brides in Kerala wear a white or cream saree, and the groom's family may give a manthrakodi, a special saree, in some communities.

Weddings

In many Indian Christian weddings, the bride wears a white gown or a white or cream saree with a veil, in the Western manner, while others choose a red or coloured silk saree for the ceremony or the reception. In Kerala, the cream and gold kasavu is common, and some Syrian Christian brides wear the manthrakodi, a silk saree presented by the groom, for the ritual. Goan Catholic brides have traditionally worn a white gown or a pano bhaju, and Christians of Tamil Nadu and Andhra often wear a silk saree in the regional style.

Church and festivals

For church on Sunday and for feasts such as Christmas and Easter, many women wear a clean, modest saree or salwar kameez, often in white or light colours, with a head covering in some traditions. At Christmas, bright colours, silk and new clothes are common. In the north-east, Christians of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya wear their own woven wraps, such as the Naga shawls and the Mizo puan, at church and festivals, and the saree is less common. In Goa, the Catholic communities have their own dress, from the kapod to the Western-influenced gowns.

Customs and etiquette

Visitors to a church should dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, and in some Orthodox and Catholic churches women cover their heads. At a Christian wedding in India, guests may wear a saree in any colour, though white is usually left to the bride, and black is generally avoided at joyful occasions. At a funeral, white, black or muted clothes are worn, depending on the community, and in Kerala, white is common. If you are invited to a wedding or a feast, ask the family about the dress.

Worth knowing

• Chatta and mundu: The traditional dress of Syrian Christian women in Kerala.
• Kasavu saree: The cream and gold Kerala sari.
• Manthrakodi: A bridal saree given by the groom in some Syrian Christian weddings.
• Mizo puan: The woven wraparound skirt of Mizoram.
• Pano bhaju: A traditional dress of Goan Catholic women.

Good to know

• Keep white and cream cloth away from turmeric and oil, which stain.
• Starch lace and chatta lightly and iron on the reverse.
• Wash kasavu gently and avoid bleach, which can yellow the gold.

Sources and further reading

• Saint Thomas Christians on Wikipedia
• Kasavu, Wikipedia