In India, as around the world, once work is done, people like to put on more comfortable, casual clothes. Some people put on Western clothes like sweatpants or jeans, but the traditional outfit for this situation is the lungee. A lungee is a rectangular piece of cloth that is wrapped around the waist, much like a towel. It is generally full-length (down to the ankles) and the bottom can be tucked into the waist to make it half-length, ending around the knees.

For Dwilale, it is traditional to get clothes, and I got a lungee. I had been coming home and just stripping down to my boxers, but then I would have to put on pants if someone came to the door or if the cook came. Lungees are appropriate casual wear, much like sweats, and can be worn in relaxed company or even to the store or on the train.

At first, I didn't know how to wear one, and Dolly's cousin had to show me the secret... Indian men wear a thin rope (they say ribbon) tied around their waist. This ribbon stays on pretty much permanently, during bathing, etc, and is pulled down over the top of the lungee to keep it up. The lungee I got is white with a red border and looks like a Roman robe when I put it on. Its comfortable and allows air flow around the body on sweaty days... even though its late October, its still touching the 90's every now and then.