Friday, June 13, 2008

Onnara (Thaar) - an introduction

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.}
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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Girija Teacher and Onnara

"Thank you Girija Teacher, for expressing your thrill on Onnara/Thaar. Not only Girija teacher, but many more would like that. Let's contribute and make all happy and thrilled! 
I wish to tell you Girija teacher, that thaar is common (in many families I know ) even in these modern days. It's not really obsolete. It's still in effect..  Remember, we Malayalis are still in favour of our traditions. Thaar is still live, in many Nair (and may be Nampoothiris and ... ) families in central Travancore, and Malabar regions . 16s and 60s , even today, have their love for it (customary or otherwise) .
But,  Girija teacher, I am afraid, our slogan :"Only Thaar, Only Thaar, No panties, No shuddies" may not work ! The new generation is tuned to panties and pads. However, Girija teacher, let's all work for a small cultural change, by promoting thaar/onnara to a greater extent, the world over.

This highlights the need to teach the youth (and all those interested) about the advantages, beauty, comfort, and excitement of probably "the most erotic under wear".  I request Girija teacher's contributions in this movement.
"
Any difficulty to recognise the item below ? !



More on Onnara later ...

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Onnara or Thaar

Did you ever try Google search, for "onnara" or "thaar' , the unique Keralite antareeyam ? If yes, you might have seen a few links.  If no, may be you never thought of it !!
In any case, please retry now ...  Search here ... and please come back.


Yeah, there are a couple of links referring to Onnara. And I could get a few short stories, which I do not intent to mention here.  But let me tell you, no one has given a reasonable coverage of Onnara on the net. I know that Onnara is not a modern subject. Only those who had the "kick of the tuck' would enjoy that or would search for it.

But, dear friends, Onnara is not all that 'old' or obsolete. It continues to be a hot item with many ladies and girls in Kerala, even today.

But an important point to be noted is that Onnara is also called "Thaar". In Travancore region, I think it is more often called "thaar". And in north Kerala (Malabar side !) its Onnara. However, its the same.  { What's there in a name ? }. The style of wearing is same (but for minor differences).
Do you remember, I've mentioned about a 6x3 cloth ? Please go back to my earlier posts, and read again. Its the 'thaaar thorthu' or 'thaar mundu' or 'onnara mundu'.

As I mentioned above, the web presence of thaar (onnara) is very poor. This blog, I hope would create a strong presence, and  enliven a dying custom. I request readers ( ladies and gentlemen) , who are knowledgeable in this great garment (and culture), to post details of what they know of it. Please also post some pictures, and on how to wear it.

As a friend of mine puts it,  let's all strive hard to popularise thaar/onnara, the world over !!!

More on thaar next time ...