A Brahman's dress should be white, and he can have a coloured turban,
preferably red. Maratha Brahmans were very particular about the
securing of their _dhoti_ or loin-cloth, which always had to have
five tucks, three into the waistband at the two sides and in front,
while the loose ends were tucked in in front and behind. Buttons had
to be avoided as they were made of bone, and shoes were considered
to be impure as being of leather. Formerly a Brahman never entered
a house with his shoes on, as he would consider the house to be
defiled. According to the old rule, if a Brahman touches a man of
an impure caste, as a Chamar (tanner) or Basor (basket-maker), he
should bathe and change his loin-cloth, and if he touches a sweeper
he should change his sacred thread. Now, however, educated Brahmans
usually wear white cotton trousers and black or brown coats of cloth,
alpaca or silk with the normal allowance of buttons, and European
shoes and boots which they keep on indoors. Boys are even discarding
the _choti_ or scalp-lock and simply cut their hair short in imitation
of the English. For the head small felt caps have become fashionable
in lieu of turbans.