Arunachal Pradesh is a state in northeastern India comprising numerous indigenous tribes, all wearing different traditional costumes.
The richness, strict cultural values and brilliant colours of the tribal community characterize the exotic traditional wears of Arunachal Pradesh.
Here’s a look into the traditional dresses worn by some of its significant tribes:
Exploring the Vibrant Traditional Dresses of Arunachal Pradesh's Major Tribes
1. Monpa Tribe Dress:
The Tawang district’s native Monpas are famous for their striking handwoven dressing costumes.
The women wear colourful woollen shingle skirts and a full-sleeve blouse called a toh-nga with stitching details.
Over this, a beautifully embroidered jacket is worn, sometimes with a belt to help keep the clothing secure.
2. Adi Tribe Dress:
The Adi women, one of the leading tribes in Arunachal, wear galuk, a short skirt with a sleeveless blouse and an upper shawl.
Their dress is, however, traditionally handwoven cotton with stripes or geometric motifs printed on them.
Other ornaments Adi women prefer include silver trinkets and bead necklaces, which are paramount to their social class and affluence.
3. Nyishi Tribe:
The Nyishi aboriginals of the central region of Arunachal Pradesh have a unique dressing style.
Men wear a knee-length, sleeveless coat made from bark or wool, sometimes accompanied by cane belts; women wear a skirt and blouse.
The popiah, a hornbill beak headdress depicting courage and gallantry, is part of the traditional attire of men in the Nyishi community.
4. Apatani Tribe Dress:
Apatani women have an exquisite dressing style and are lightly dressed with a short skirt known as pire, a type of blouse called jilling, and a bamboo head gown.
The men wear the same clothes except for their styles and the materials cited in the passage above.
They used to adorn their woman with nose plugs known as yapping hullo, but this is now rare. Males and females of the Ferae wear shiny beads and cane badges.
5. Mishing Tribe Dress:
The Mishing tribe, well known for weaving, wears bright-coloured handloom apparel.
It consists of a wrap-around skirt called mekhela Chaduar and a blouse with riha, similar to a sari and shawl.
They like to wear multicoloured glass bead necklaces that go well with the beauty of their dress materials.
6. Galo Tribe :
The traditional costumes of the Galo tribe are unique. The traditional attire of the men is a long coat of yak hair or handwoven fabric wrapped with a broad belt.
Female attire includes a brightly coloured skirt that can be worn matched with a shawl.
As with other tribes, Galo women prefer to adorn themselves with bead necklaces and bits of metal, while the men bear a dao (knife) on their person.
7. Wancho Tribe
The Wancho men wear a sleeveless jacket with a dhoti-style Ghera on the back side of the body.
The female garment includes a colorful patterned skirt wrapped around the whole body, a blouse that complements the skirt, and accessories with huge jewelry.
Wancho men folk have another type of ornamental headgear enriched by feathers and animal bones, which signify them as marvelous warriors.
Conclusion:
The traditional dress of Arunachal Pradesh is a stunning blend of vibrant colors, intricate designs, and natural materials like wool, cotton, and animal hide.
Each tribe’s attire highlights its unique identity and reflects the region’s natural beauty and cultural richness.
The intricate weaving patterns, use of vibrant colors, and beautiful ornaments make Arunachal Pradesh’s traditional clothing genuinely remarkable and a testament to the state’s rich cultural heritage.
