Kerala's FIFA fever goes traditional: World Cup themed dhotis become hot favourites
Kerala’s passion for football has once again taken centre stage during the FIFA World Cup, with fans embracing the tournament in a uniquely local way. Alongside the usual flood of jerseys, giant posters and flex banners, football-themed dhotis have emerged as one of the biggest attractions across the state.
Shops in several parts of Kerala, including Thrissur, have been selling dhotis inspired by the colours and designs of popular football nations such as Argentina, Brazil and Portugal. Displayed on mannequins alongside matching jerseys, the traditional attire has drawn crowds and become a talking point among football fans.
Shop owners say the demand for the customised dhotis has matched, and in some cases rivalled, the sale of team jerseys during this World Cup.
“We have sold mostly mundu (dhotis), especially those of Portugal, Argentina and Brazil,” said the owner of Puthuma Collections in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur.
“This time, we sold a lot of mundu alongside jerseys with the same print. Jerseys of Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe and Neymar were, as expected, in high demand.”
The trend once again underlines Kerala’s unique football culture, where global sporting celebrations are often blended with local traditions, giving the World Cup festivities a distinctly Malayali flavour.
