Mundum neriyatum

Mundum neriyatum (Malayalam: മുണ്ട് നേരിയത്; settu-mundu or mundu-set) is the traditional clothing of women in Kerala, a state in southwestern India.

[1] The mundum neriyatum is the extant form of the ancient sari referred to as "Sattika" in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain literature.

[6][7][8] Surviving medieval Kerala mural paintings depict existence of three-styles of clothing worn by women, these include one-piece mundum, single-piece sari with over-lapping pleats resembling nivi-drape worn today by Mohiniyattam dancers and two-piece mundum neriyatum attire which evolved into Kerala sari.

[10] A mundum neriyatum is starched before being draped and is worn over a blouse that matches the colour of the border or kara.

The colour for the blouse of the mundum neriyatum for this occasion is determined by the age and marital status of the woman.

Both the traditional and modern styles of the mundum neriyatum are depicted in the paintings of the Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma.

In one of his paintings the Indian subcontinent was shown as a mother wearing a flowing nivi sari.