The traditional clothes of the northeast India have different cultural traditions and so do the states in the region. The motifs and saturation and the embellishments that are a part of the ethnic Tatar women’s traditional clothing are in fact mindful of the artistically and culturally rich history of the various ethnic groups in the region.
Traditional Dress of Northeast India: A Cultural Tapestry
For Women:
- Mekhela Chador (Assam): This traditional dress worn by women in Assam is made up of an encasement (mekhela) which is made from cotton or silk and is tied with an uncut piece of cloth (chador) which is tied on the bodily. The mekhela could have fine patterns and designs and the chador is adorned with a gorgeous borders, and occasionally it is decorated with embossed details.
- Riga (Nagaland): The Naga women’s traditional dress is also known by the name of Riga as it is vibrant and cheery dress, adorned in vibrant shades. It is made of a woven fabric that creates a skirt which wraps around the lower body. It also has beads and tassels. The top layer is a blouse, or a Shawl with sleeves. They wear basic or elegant stoles or blouses.
- Phaneek (Manipur): Traditional attire of the northeast region of Indiais that of the Phaneek which is a long, unstitched fabric that is either tied around waists or worn on the shoulder. It is usually made of silk fabric and embellished with beautiful or elaborate designs. It is paired with a blouse or scarf. The shawl can be plain, or decorated with intricate designs.
- Jainsem (Meghalaya): The Khasi women typically do not wear blouses. their attire Jainsem is a garment that is not stitched which extends from the armpits to the ankles and worn across on the shoulder of left. Typically, it is made of silk or cotton fabric, and is decorated with intricate patterns and designs. The Jainsem is usually worn with a blouse that may be basic or with intricate embroidery.
For Men:
- Dhoti-Kurta (Assam, Manipur, Tripura): The dhoti-kurta is another common type of clothing that is popular among men from several of the states of the northeastern region. The dhoti is an elongated piece of fabric that is worn pulled through the legs, then tied at the waist, and the kurta, on the other side is a loose and long tunic. The dhoti is a simple garment or could display large and extensive prints or borders while the kurta can be more elaborate with these prints.
- Riha (Nagaland): This is why the Riha traditional dress worn by Naga men, is a striking and cheery item of attire. It comes with a loincloth and a shawl to cover the body, and a cap to cover the head. The loincloth is usually embellished with different patterns and ornaments The shawl could be embellished or simply have pictures of traditional designs. The headpieces comprise the hairs of animals or feathers. it gives patrons an idea of the person’s status in society as well as their religious beliefs.
- Kynjri Ksiar (Meghalaya):The headgear of Khasi men is Kynjri Ksiar which is a white cap made of a cloth with a red borders. It’s a symbol for the married man, specifically designed for celebrations.
Here are a few examples of the elaborate traditional attire from Northeast India only. Each state’s dress code and each ethnic group has their own distinct fashion and significance to the dress. The bright and attractive clothes while displaying the various traditions of the area, but they also showcase the creative talents and the creativity of the people.