It is typical for people in Asia to wear different wrap-around garments. They’re often made from light and natural fabrics to help locals survive in hot and humid climates. Today, we’re going to tell you about the traditional clothing articles of Indian Bodo people – all of these garments are also simply wrapped around the body. But it doesn’t make them any less or inferior. Actually, Bodo folk clothing looks really festive and ornate.
The Bodo people are an ethnic group of India. They live in several districts of Assam state. There are only about 1.3 million of Bodo people. But they have their thoroughly maintained clothing traditions.
There are several main traditional garments in Bodo folk costume, including a dokhona, an aronai, a jwmgra, and a gamsha.
A dokhona is a female wrap-around dress. Its size is usually 3m x 1.5m, but it can vary according to the figure. This dress covers the women’s body from chest to ankles. A dokhona can be plain, without any patterns, or designed (patterns on the whole piece of fabric, only with a border, or a little bit of both).
An aronai is a small unisex scarf. This item is closely connected to the Bodo culture. It was presented to warriors by their women (warriors wore it as a belt), people greeted and honored guests with an aronai as a gift, it was used in the folk dances, etc. In winter, Bodo people wear it around their necks for warmth.
A jwmgra is a female scarf worn wrapped around the upper body. It is a festive garment, so it’s adorned with decorative designs. The size is 2,5m x 1m.
A gamsha is a male piece of clothing. Its size is 2m x 1.2m. It is sort of a wrap-around skirt that covers the male body from waist to knee. The most popular color of a gamsha is green with white border. This garment is obligatory for Bodo grooms and during religious ceremonies.
How to wear a Bodo dokhona
This is Binu Goyary and she will show you how to put on a dokhona dress.
First, open and spread the fabric.
There are traditionally 6 corners in dokhona.
Wrap the left end of dokhona around your body – it is the first corner.
Put the right flap over torso and tuck the fabric in – the second corner is near your left armpit.
Take the end of dokhona and put it around you to the back.
At the back, rearrange the fabric and wrap it around your waist.
Again, put the left end around your belly first – the third corner.
Then, goes the right end. Tuck it inside the waistline. It’s the forth corner.
The fifth and sixth corners are the bottom ends of a dokhona.
And that’s it. Simple enough if you’ve got some experience in draping this garment.
Video tutorial you can find here:
