veshti

thumb|upright=0.8|Tamils wearing veshti in 1930s

A veshti or vēṭṭi is a rectangular piece of non-stitched cloth, with varying lengths, used as a wrap for the lower body by the Tamils. It is often white, bordered in brightly coloured stripes. It is generally wrapped around the legs, knotted and secured by a corner being tucked beneath the wrapped cloth at the waist. The style of draping might vary between communities, and men sometimes wear a hip belt to hold the veshti in place. Predominantly worn by men, it is sometimes worn by women and the drape is known as vetti-mundu.