Mallu jokes and the lungi / mundu myth.

Like with other ethnic groups, there exists a huge compilation of Mallu-jokes that poke
fun of Malayalees as a group and I have always had a nice laugh reading them. It is good
to occasionally laugh at yourself.

Some of the jokes centre on the ethnic Mallu male's dressing - the lungi / mundu (known
as Veshti in Tamil) and which can be described as a kind of sarong tied around your waist.
While anyone can drape this around them, ensuring that it stays around you requires
practice.

The jokes are around how the Mallu male is only 50% productive at work because half
his time is spent (re)tying the lungi/mundu and ensuring that it stays in place. So, while
driving to the beach last weekend, when we came across a group of men playing a game
of volleyball wearing mostly lungis, it was tough to drive by.


A close-up of 2 of the players with the lungi around their waist.


We stopped and watched the game for sometime. While Aman & me enjoyed the game,
I was also checking if any of the players spent time on keeping the lungi properly tied.
But No, not even one player even bothered about the lungi. It was as if the lungi was
glued in place.

So much for the myth that Mallus are only 50% productive at work. :-)