Traditional Dress of Arunachal Pradesh
Traditional Dress of Arunachal
Arunachal Pradesh is situated in the northeastern region of India and is generally known for its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and ethnic traditions. There are 26 tribes living here that possess distinct customs, traditions, and languages. Traditional dresses are the most important means often used to accord cultural identity to a particular state. Costumes of various tribes in Arunachal Pradesh reflect an artistic sense, relationship with nature, beliefs, and lifestyle.
The blog will give an insight into the traditional dress of Arunachal Pradesh with some details on the costumes of the main tribes of the state and what they carry in meaning.
Here are the Traditional Dresses of Arunachal
The Apatani Tribe
This is one of the bold and vibrant tribes located on the hilly mountains of Arunachal Pradesh and mainly inhabits the Ziro Valley. Their traditional dresses are devices of very useful definition symbols for explaining their culture.
- Women: The Apatani women show themselves in a big unstitched cotton cloth, Miri, elegantly ordered and wrapped around the waist; it is made with broad moving parts and bound in a belt-like structure. Their elaborately carved headdresses are a marked feature of the Apatani women’s attire. The headgear is generally prepared from strips of bamboo, wood, or sometimes metal. Perhaps, the prominent feature of the Apatani women is the tattooed face. This characterized them, and the tradition of tattooing, though losing its ways fast, has been one in vogue complete. The tattoos seem to protect women from being kidnapped by other tribes, but in recent periods have become quite rare.
- Men: Apatani men wear simply and neatly that include the Chadar (a large cloth draped around the shoulders) and lungi (a piece of cloth tied around the waist). However the fabrics they wear are usually that of cotton or silk, along with headgear prepared from bamboo.
This attire is functional, simple, and deeply related and influenced by the Apatani people’s life in the wooded valleys.
The Monpa Tribe
The Monpa are an indigenous and historical group of people from Arunachal Pradesh. They are found mostly in the Tawang and Western Kameng districts in the vicinity of Tibet and thus their clothing follows Tibetan custom.
- Women: In the fashions of Mponpa, women wear colorful dresses, which signify the abundance of their culture. The dress usually consists of long-sleeved dresses extending down to the ankles made of woolen material that makes it possible for them to overcome the cold of the region. Dress always includes a woven woolen shawl that matches the outfit. Depending on the occasion, a Monpa woman wears either a scarf around her head or a hat.
- Men: The dress of Monpa men is simple and practical. The cold mountain air allows for a long woolen robe for warmth. To top it, Monpa men wear hats, which are generally enhanced with various decorations. Traditional dress of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Monpa attire derives its decoration and utility from its being knitted for the conditions of a cold mountainous region.
The Nyishi Tribe
The Nyishi tribe, found in the central and western parts of Arunachal Pradesh, is one of the largest tribes in the state. The traditional attire of the Nyishi tribe is simple yet functional and showcases their deep connection to nature and their agrarian lifestyle.
- For Women: Nyishi women wear a gale (a cloth wrapped around the body) and a chadar (a shoulder cloth). Their attire is usually made of cotton or wool, depending on the season. Women also wear elaborate jewelry, especially during festivals and important occasions. These include necklaces made of beads, shells, and metals. The attire is completed with a headscarf that is either wrapped around the head or tied around the forehead.
- For Men: Nyishi men wear a short shirt made of cloth, paired with a lungi. They also wear a chadar draped over their shoulders. The attire of Nyishi men is simple and easy to move in, which is important for their daily activities like farming and hunting.
The clothes worn by the Nyishi people are reflective of their surroundings, with practicality at the forefront, while still maintaining a deep sense of cultural identity.
The Mishmi Tribe
The Mishmi tribe is one of the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh, lives near the India-Chinaand border. As already indicated, their dressing style does harbor an accord with geographic location and the cold temperature surrounding them in the mountains.
- For Women: Mishmi women wear long woollen robes, which they weave by hand. These robes are generally black, with bright scarves wrapped around the waist. These clothes are quite warm, with many layers intended to protect them from the thinning heat of the cold. They cover their heads with beautiful cloth and feathered hats, usually made of metal or fur, which signify social status in the tribe.
- For Men: Men of the Mishmi also wear similar woollen clothes and long cloaks or robes. The headgear is also essential, ornately decorated with beautiful pieces or feathers. This indicates a crescendo of bravery and valor. Their attire is both practical and symbolic to them, representing their culture of warrior kinship.
The Nocte Tribe
Beyond altering the dress code for festivals and special occasions, otherwise, the dresses are very simple. The Nocte tribe resides in the western part of Arunachal Pradesh, mainly in the Tirap district. Their attire is simple, yet it reflects the natural surroundings of the region.
- For Woman: The woman of the Nocte tribe wears a pangkam, which is made of cloth, around the waist. It also consists of a small top or blouse. The attire is made of cotton or woven fabric, and the women wear distinctive jewelry made of beads and shells.
- For Man: The male counterpart is usually in a lungi worn around the waist and a chadar draped over the shoulder, and the spears or machetes are their daily attire.
It is worth noting that the dress of the Noctes serves the purpose of sustaining their way of life while simultaneously preserving their unique cultural identity.
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