Introduction
The “Seven Sisters” of India located at the northernmost part of the country particularly Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura have a rich ethnic culture. It is mandatory that each state has its own conventional dress, which speaks about its past, topography and cultural background. These dresses are not only a piece of fabric to wear but also the culture and the look of the region. In this essay, focus will be directed to the traditional dresses of these seven states; emphasis bringing out the meaning, differences and the stories behind each garment.
1. Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh is the land of many tribes and each has its traditional attire. Likewise, ornaments that are visibly pivotal include the woven dress that is well associated with the Apatani tribe. Females pull on what is referred to as the jill and blouse known as the galuk, accessorized by wearing beads and ornaments. The costumes that the men commonly put on are short sleeved vests with tails and some form of small loincloth. As for the head-dress, only the married women of the Monpa tribe wear it, where the “shingka” is somewhat similar to a sleeveless dress, while the blouse worn alongside it has full sleeves. The men put on a ‘ponung’, a type of coat. These garments which are commonly used include are mostly made of wool likely dictated by the chilly climate.
Suggested Read: The Mesmerizing Traditional Dresses of Arunachal Pradesh!
2. Assam
Regarding the attire, it can be noted that the Assamese traditional dress is not only conservative but also simplistic in the essence. The women at home wear the m ekhelé chádór, a two piece costume. Meekhela is a long cylindrical piece of cloth used to cover the lower part of the body like a skirt, and chadar is another piece of cloth used to cover the upper part of the body. This attire is generally worked in Assam silk, which is one of the finest types of silk available. Men dress in the loin cloth known as “dhoti” and “gamosa”, the latter is a cloth that has many uses and is of great cultural importance. It gives geo-cultural significance to the dress in which the motifs of the Assamese dress emulates nature, mainly due to the green nuances of the state.
3. Manipur
It is a uniqueness of Manipuri traditional dress that has an elegant and colorful impression of it. Female candidates normally use the ‘phanek’ and the ‘innaphi’. The phanek is a strip skirt which is normally checked while the inaphi is a garment similar to a shawl and worn over the blouse. The traditional costume of the women is the ‘rasleela’ dress, preferably used in the dance known as rasleela, which has brightly colored and attractive patterns. Males wear a dhoti along with a Jama and during festivals they put on the traditional head dress called naga.
Suggested Read: The Vibrant Traditional Dresses of Manipur Reflecting Manipuri Culture!
4. Meghalaya
The traditional attire of Meghalaya varies among its major tribes. The others are the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia. The dressing code for the khasi women is a ‘jainsem’ which is a two piece dress and ‘tapmohkhlieh’ which is a form a shawl which encircles the shoulders. The clothes worn by the Jaintia women are more or less same as the above mentioned but with slight variations in the design and style statements. The Garo women have a dress style that involves putting on a wrap-around skirt that is known as the ‘dakmanda’, accompanied by a blouse. The ‘jainspong’ is the primary garment for the male members of these tribes; however, it comes in different designs on the basis of the tribe that the male pertains to. A turban is worn with the ‘jainspong. Besides, these garments also feature royal embroidery, rich fabrics, and beautiful patterns as a display of the state’s weaving industry.
Suggested Read: Traditional Dresses of Meghalaya, Tribal Attire at its Best
5. Mizoram
Traditionally, the people of Mizoram are very particular about their dressing style and the dresses mostly used have beautiful colors and beautiful designs. The “puan” which is a wrap-around skirt is primarily the traditional dress for women. It can be worn along with a blouse known as kawr chei typically, puan is hand-woven and has bright contrasting colors and rich patterns. The men wear the “puanchei,” a loose-fitting lungi, and jacket while the women wear the pua and long blouses, skirts, and shawls. Mizo women still wear traditional dresses, which are accompanied by beads and other ornaments, which indicates that the people liked decorations.
6. Nagaland
Nagaland is home to many tribes and every tribe has their own traditional wear. For instance, the Angami tribe has traditional wears, which are the “white mhoushu,” for women and the “black lohe,” for men. This wear is usually enhanced with beautiful toys and bead work on the clothes. Ao’s women dress in mèkhèlà, it is a type of wrap-around skirt and shawl and Ao’s men wear a type of skirt and a vest like garment with short sleeves. These attires, most of the time, are made from hand woven fabrics showing the Tribe’s weaving prowess.
7. Tripura
Traditionally people of Tripura can be seen wearing simple and elegant pieces of cloth that are trying to make a statement about the community. The “rignai” is an attire that was originally for women; a type of skirt which envelops the lower part of the body and a blouse commonly known locally as “risa”, a dress that covers the upper part of the body except the shoulders. The men folk put on a “rikutu”, a sort of dhoti and jacket. These dresses are mainly made of cotton fabrics and are accrued with plain yet chic cuttings. The state’s traditional costume is similar to the agricultural way of life and the impact of adjoining areas.
Cultural Significance of Seven Sisters
The attire of the Seven Sisters has a significant aspect of identity inherited within the customs and ceremonies of the people. Earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets are commonly used during festivals, weddings, and other related ceremonials, which signify the user’s identity and origin. The arrangements and designs on these robes are complex and they actually depict a history of the developing social group, its culture and physical vicinity. For example, the given garment color or the pattern that is created may be used in discriminating the marital status or social class or even belonging to a certain tribe.
Preservation and Modern Adaptations
Lately, the female population of the Seven Sisters states has been advocating for the retention and popularization of their native costumes. This has been escalated by government and other non-government agencies efforts that have been deemed necessary in continuing to preserve the culture of the region. Furthermore, fashion designers in the present generation are slowly introducing some traditional attires into fashionable clothes that young people currently wear, considering the historical aspect while designing their clothes.
Most of the modern adaptations that have been adopted by different communities include the use of traditional fabrics and designs but in the modern clothing styles. For instance, the fashionable Assamese silk pieces are used in the making of modern dresses and accessories and the Mizo puan designs are integrated to the fashionable western wears. It also assists in passing the cherishable traditional styles of weaving and craftsmanship to the present times and the youth develop pride in their culture.
Conclusion
The traditional dresses of women traditionally known as Seven Sisters of India are bright and very much a part of the region’s color palette. The clothes that the people wear also vary and are in relation to the state’s history, geographical location, and ethnic distribution. These garments are not mere wear; they are representation of the culture and histories of people of the region. As attempts to keep these customs continue and with the process of development in which these garments are integrated with today’s trends, the dresses of the Seven Sisters will remain a vivid example of the Cyrillic cultures present heritage.
