Traditional outfits of men and women
Key Takeaways
Apatani tribe have different types of colourful, beautiful, attractive and unique textiles. The designs of their textiles are represented in geometric pattern like diamond and ZigZag lines. The Apatani women have a tradition of face tattoos and nose buds. Traditional dresses for females include:
1.Bilang abi (gale) - It is a 3-vertical band (white, red and blue) skirt made of cotton yarn. The upper part of the skirt is woven of white coloured cotton yarn .This is followed by a strip of red colour and a stripe of blue colour respectively. Length of garment is 76 cm and width 62 cm. The skirt is worn by the young women especially during Dree celebration.
2. Ji abi - It is a lower garment made of two separate pieces stitched together. The Apatani women used this garment as a skirt and it has fringes at both ends. The garment is made of cotton yarn in white and black colours. The upper part of the skirt is white and the lower part is black. This skirt is used by older people, especially during Dree celebrations. The length of the garment is 150 cm and width 180 cm.
3. Haitey abie/hete abi - It is used as a lower garment by women and is made of cotton fabric in white and reddish maroon colour. The length of the garment is 150 cm and width 180 cm. The upper part of the garment is white and the lower part is red. The garment shows rows of black stripes lengthwise. There are typical spiral and angular patterns of brown, reddish maroon and black colours that could be seen all through the fabric. Embroidered diamond patterns also adorn the middle part of the garment. The lower part of the skirt reveals row of red and black stripes.
4. Pisa linda - It is a below the knee length red skirt woven of red wool and silk yarn. The garment shows rows of black stripes width wise. Whole body of the skirt is highly decorated with zigzag motifs in white and yellow, traditionally worn by young and unmarried girls.
5. Supung tari - It is a sleeveless richly decorated white shirt used by women. The shirt is woven of cotton and wool yarn. The back of the jacket has a vertical band which is richly decorated in yellow, red, white and blue colours on a blue base. The bottom part of the jacket has a small size horizontal band of same combination. The garment have fringes at the bottom. The length of shirt is 50 cm and width 60 cm.
Traditional dresses for male include:
1. Jig-jiro - It is a fringe shawl used by men woven of a variety of simple dark-blue cotton yarn. There are stripes on the upper, lower and as well as in the middle part of the shawl in orange, yellow and red colour. Length of the garment is 137 cm and the width, 114 cm. The shawl is especially worn by priests during Myoko and Murun celebrations.
2. Jikhe pulye - It is a fringed shawl woven of cotton and wool yarn. It consists of two separate pieces of cloth stitched together. The shawl is of white colour adorned with intricate black lozenge motifs and dots on the whole garment. It has borders in orange, yellow, red and black colour on both sides and a medium size band of the same combination. The length of garment is 135 cm and width 115 cm.
3. Jikatari - It is a richly decorated sleeveless jacket with front cut open. The jacket is woven of white cotton yarn with fringes at the bottom. The two sides of the jacket shows border in orange, yellow and black colours. There are diamond patterns which could be in stripes of orange and yellow colours.
4. Jilang pulye - It is a fringed shawl woven of black cotton and wool yarn. It shows borders in orange and black at both ends. At the centre of the shawl there is a medium size band length wise in white and orange colours and have lengthwise stripes in blue colour on both sides of the band. Both end of the shawl shows intricate lozenge motifs and dots woven orange yellow and white. It is the most expensive piece of the ceremonial priestly attire. Jilan is required in most important rituals performed at the time of Myoko, Murung, and Subu tanii.
Traditional attire of Apatani Traditional weaving of Apatani
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