A long, unstitched piece of cloth draped around the lower body, the dhoti is a term for the traditional garment worn by men in different parts of India. It is usually paired with a kurta or a shirt. The word dhoti derives from the Sanskrit word dhauti, meaning “to clean or wash,” referring to the tradition of washing one’s clothing every day. Historically, the dhoti may have descended from an ancient garment called the antariya, which was worn around the waist and draped similar to the modern day dhoti.

Like the lungi, the dhoti is mostly made of cotton, however dhotis in other fabrics such as silk and tussar are often worn for special occasions. The most common method of wearing a dhoti involves knotting the two sides of the fabric at the centre of the waist, looping one side between the legs and pleating and tucking it at the back, while the remainder of the fabric is pleated and tucked in securely at the front. The result is a loose, trouser-like drape that typically ends at the ankles. The length of an average dhoti can measure anywhere between 3.6 m (which is wrapped around the waist like a sarong) to 4.55 m (meant to be looped and tucked at the back of the waist).