Kupya Chale - KODAVA Men Dress

The traditional dress of the Kodavas, the Kupya Chale definitely stands apart . A Kupya Chale clad Kodava is as elegant as one can be. It is worn during family celebrations and festivities. It has a history as long as the Kodavas and today, it is worn with a modern touch with a white trouser and a tie.

The traditional dress consists of Kupya, Chale, Mande tuni, Peeche kathi and Odi kathi.

Kupya:

Kupya is a collarless, thick, short-sleeved , knee length coat made of wool or cotton.
There are black and white kupyas each having its own significance and worn in particular occasions.

The knee length black kupya was worn as everyday clothes in the earlier  days, as the thick material protected from the cold and while moving through the thick jungles.

Only a man who is in a position of honour wears a white kupya. During the marriage ceremony the bridegroom always wears a white kupya and in the time of death the kupya is reversed and is worn to the body.

Chale: The chale is a maroon gold-embroidered silk sash which is worn around the waist to secure the Kupya.

Mande tuni: Head dress , a white length of cloth is tied around the head as a turban. A red checkered cloth known as vastra is also used instead of the mande tuni.

Peeche Kathi: Kodavas have a very strong bond with their weapons
and even though the peeche kathi was not part of the traditional dress, they keep this silver dagger tucked in their chale as a part of their culture.

Odi kathi: is the main sword , it is tucked to the chale in the back side.