If you grew up thinking shorts were a Western thing, think again. India’s had its own versions of shorts for centuries, and they’re way more interesting than your basic gym or denim ones. From cricket grounds in Mumbai to city markets in Chennai, you’ll spot men and women in distinctly Indian shorts, each with a culture, name, and history stitched in. Some go way back—before British khaki shorts showed up—while others have adapted and found a spot next to jeans shorts and cargos in modern wardrobes.
Let’s get straight to the question: what are Indian shorts called? In India, the answer depends a lot on region, culture, and even personal style. One of the classic names you’ll hear is "kachha" (pronounced kuh-chaa), a Hindi word that usually refers to undergarments or short loose trousers. There’s also "chaddi" or "chaddis," often used playfully to mean underwear or very short shorts, sometimes worn by kids or men around the house. Kaccha and chaddi both pop up in daily life—trust me, if you’ve watched any Bollywood comedy, you’ve heard the word "chaddi" shouted more than once.
But these aren’t the only shorts in India’s closet. Specific to North India, you’ll find langot, a kind of traditional loincloth or wrestling shorts. South India has the "veshti" or "lungi," and when people want a more casual, cool-off-at-home vibe, they tie them short style above the knee (think of that viral Kerala uncle meme: lungi at half-mast, ready for monsoon rain). This style gets called "short lungi" or just "short version" of veshti. Then you’ve got athletic styles: knicker used to refer to knee-length shorts, mostly for boys at school, and sports types relied on "sports shorts," sometimes simply called "half-pants" by everyone from cricket coaches to dads packing for a holiday.
Here’s a quick lowdown:
Older generations will say “knicker” for younger boys, especially at school—every school in North India, right till the 1990s, had its primary students in shorts. For pehelwans (traditional wrestlers), langot is the classic gear, showing that shorts aren’t just streetwear—they’re part of cultural rituals too. The language shifts by state too: in Tamil, they might say “kudumi” for a makeshift short from a veshti, while in Bengal, “genji” and “chaddi” are common.
The earliest Indian shorts go way back. Wrestlers wore the langot, a strip of cloth tied around the groin, for centuries. Still a familiar sight in akharas (wrestling gyms), it's all about functionality rather than fashion. Light, easy to wash, and—honestly—perfect for sweaty workouts. If you Google images of famous Indian wrestlers like Gama Pehelwan from the 1900s, you’ll see him in a well-tied langot, the original Indian short.
Then you had the rise of the dhoti and lungi, two pieces of unstitched cloth with incredible versatility. Workmen or farmers would quickly hike up the fabric and tie it above the knee when heat or muddy paddy fields demanded it—voila, instant shorts. Even today, during festivals or cricket matches in South India, you’ll see guys tucking their veshti up to indulge in a makeshift short. This is both practical and a smart bit of DIY tailoring.
Things changed big time during the British colonial period. "Knickerbockers"—short, puffed trousers—became the fashion in Indian schools for boys. These eventually slimmed down and morphed into "half-pants." School uniforms featured half-pants until at least the ‘90s, and you still find tiny schoolboys in big Delhi or Mumbai schools running around in them every morning.
Let’s not forget, the military and sports also pushed shorts into the mainstream. Indian soldiers adapted British khaki shorts in hot camps, leading to practical, roomy wear that suited India’s climate. Post-independence, this military heritage moved into civilian and school life. Shorts took root in college campuses, railway left luggage rooms, and family photo albums of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Here's a look at how Indian shorts evolved alongside global fashion:
| Period | Common Indian Styles | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient times | Langot | Wrestling, laborers |
| 1600s-1800s | Dhoti/Lungi tied short | Farmers, workers, daily wear |
| 1870s-1940s | Knickerbockers | Boys' school uniform |
| 1950s-1990s | Half-pants, sports shorts | Kids, athletes, men at home |
| 2000s-now | Chino, cargo, denim shorts (Western+regional names) | Youth, urban fashion |
By the 2000s, global brands and Bollywood trends took over, and Indian shorts got a serious upgrade. Now, you’ll see all kinds: classic white cotton shorts at a puja at grandma’s house, Punjabis wearing breezy kachha at a gurdwara, city teens in Levi’s or H&M cutoffs, and hipsters styling up their own versions of the lungi short for a music festival.
Context is everything with Indian shorts. In some circles, shorts are day-to-day comfort gear. Tell a Tamil uncle the temperature is above 30°C and he’ll tie his veshti into a short without missing a beat. Visit the wrestling akhara at dawn and every pehelwan, young and old, has his langot in place, ready to roll in the mud. Up North, in rural Punjab, you’ll spot older men in loose kachha paired with vests, sipping tea by the roadside.
For most of the 20th century, shorts in India—especially the classic half-pant, kachha, or knicker—were almost always for kids and young men. Once you hit adolescence, trousers took over for formality and respectability. This is still pretty true in some conservative towns, though cities are a different story now. Bangalore college students chill at cafes in shorts, Mumbai fashionistas style up bright cotton shorts for brunch, and Delhi kids dodge monsoon puddles in waterproof cargos.
At the same time, shorts also mark high-energy activities. Gym-goers and athletes favor sporty materials and shorter cuts for easy movement. Schoolboys—especially up to class 6 or 7—are still seen in standardized half-pants. And during festivals like Holi, people sometimes roll up their lowers, sometimes improvising their own shorts to tackle the color-filled fun.
Household loungewear is a huge space for Indian shorts. In most families, it’s totally normal to switch from jeans or trousers into kachha, chaddi, or soft pajama shorts once you’re home. They're breezy in the muggy Indian summer, forgiving if you had too many samosas with chai, and—let’s be honest—just so easy to slip on after a shower.
Interestingly, political symbolism even made its way into the world of Indian shorts. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist group, was famous for their distinct, brown, knee-length shorts (they called them "half-pants"), until they finally updated their dress code to trousers a few years ago. These iconic shorts became so recognizable that even international commentators noticed their style change.
Women’s shorts have a different story. Traditionally, rural women wore saris, lungis, or regional skirts—rarely shorts. But urban India, especially among younger women, has seen shorts (denim, linen, and athletic styles) become super popular since the 2010s. Popular Instagram pages and Mumbai fashion blogs often post DIY hacks for styling kurtas over shorts, mixing tradition and street style.
While Western-style shorts are now familiar everywhere, regional improvisations are still loved for their comfort. And if you’re at a Goa beach, don’t be surprised if someone rocks a lungi short with sunglasses and flip-flops—it’s a true mix of chill and tradition.
If you’re visiting India or just want to dive into some desi comfort at home, here are a few things to know:
Here’s a quick rundown of which shorts to choose where, based on the mood and moment:
| Occasion | Short Type | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Knicker/sports shorts | Freedom of movement, classic |
| At home | Kachha/chaddi | Comfy and relaxed |
| Beach or hot outdoors | Lungi short, half-pant | Quick dry, practical |
| Wrestling/gym | Langot | Traditional, cool, secure |
| Urban/casual outing | Chino/cargo/denim shorts | Trendy and easy |
And here’s one gem: during the sweltering summer of 2024, over 26% of men’s clothing searches on Indian e-retailers featured "half-pant," "lungi short," or "cotton chaddi." That’s right—old-school styles are still hustling, even while modern cuts get their screen time on Netflix.
Indian shorts aren’t a relic; they’re a real, everyday choice—sometimes nodding to the past, sometimes pushing into the future. Next time you spot that uncle in a half-mast lungi at a chai stall in Chennai, or a Delhi schoolboy in classic half-pants, you know there’s more to those shorts than meets the eye. History, comfort, rebellion, and pure practical sense—Indian shorts are in a league of their own.
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