Sacred Cloth

For a man. Two lengths sewed together. Red dukula (a Sanskrit word meaning plant fibre), with border stripes, ends and sides, of red and yellow silk, black, white and yellow dukula, and gold - and silver - wrapped threads. Ends frayed; has holes and is stained. The cloth is worn at a profound religious ceremony. It is wrapped around once, tucked in waistband; the free end then drawn between legs and tucked in at the back.