Lingering on Langots

The Indian subcontinent has a fundoshi analog, the langot. While there are some basic structural differences, there are also definite visual similarities, especially from the front view. Langots are frequently seen oh pehalwans, wrestlers in the ancient fraternal art of kushti. It is also the garb of ascetics who forsake all worldly possessions besides a simple loincloth.

Return Of The Langot

Visually, India's langot loincloth is a cousin of the rokushaku fundoshi, but the similarity mostly ends there. The ties that secure the langot around the wasit make it more similar to the relaxed fit of the etchu fundoshi. As we'll see, the langot is a robust garment designed with athleticism in mind:

A Moment For The Langot

The langot, or langota, is a loincloth predominantly worn in India. It's used by kushti wrestlers in the Indian countryside who wrestle in specially-dug clay pits, and also by yogis and yoginis for it's superior support of the bodily core.

For those who like the look of the front of a rokushaku fundoshi, but prefer broader butt coverage; or for those who like the simplicity of the etchū fundoshi but like a more tucked-in look, the langot provides a nice balance of look, feel, support, and simplicity. It's tied around the waist much like an etchū fundoshi, then the apron (which is longer) is pulled from back to front, under the ties. Finally, the excess apron is pulled back between the legs and tucked into the langot at the small of your back, as pictured below. The effect looks like short trunks from the back and much like rokushaku fundoshi from the front. Lots more pictures after the jump!