The Bodo Traditional Attire, its Evolution and Significance of Weaving in Bodo Women's Life

FASHION

Like most other tribes, the Bodo community has specific attire, which is of great significance. For the Bodo people, Aronai is a traditional item possessing great cultural significance. They use this cloth to felicitate people, as a mark of honour. People wear it as a scarf on the neck in winter. It is also seen being used in cultural occasions.

Culture is a significant component of life. It is ingrained deep into our roots and forms the basis of who we are, our identity. Our traditions mirror our existence and value our allegiance as belonging to a particular community. The Northeast region of India, comprising of the eight states, are home to enriching culture and traditions. The various tribes and sub-tribes have their respective culture and traditions which they value much and have been upholding their integrity for ages.

The Bodo community or the Bodo tribe of Assam is the largest ethnological group in India. Concentrated mostly in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam, people of this group are spread out across the state and in parts of Meghalaya. This group is yet another group whose clothing has forever stood up as a resemblance of their enriching culture.

The Gamusa or Gamosa is an emblem of great significance of the people of Assam and the Bodo people use it too. The Gamusa is a white hand-woven piece of cloth of cotton or silk, which is also incorporated with red woven patterns or motifs on either side. The borders are lined with red stripes.

Like most other tribes, the Bodo community has specific attire, which is of great significance. For the Bodo people, Aronai is a traditional item possessing great cultural significance. They use this cloth to felicitate people, as a mark of honour. People wear it as a scarf on the neck in winter. It is also seen being used in cultural occasions.

The Bodo wear a traditional dress called the Gamsa. It is used to cover the portion of their body from the waist to the knee. They tie it to the waist and covers their body from the waist to the knee. This dress is available in different colours such as green, slight red and mixture of different colours –white & green, white & blue and more combinations of colours.

The Bodo women, on the other hand, wear the traditional Dokhona, which is accompanied by a Jwmgra. Dokhona is a one-piece cloth set. However, this gives the look of a two-piece cloth.

Change: The constant phenomena

Traditional culture is an amalgamation of age-old experiences, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Change is constant and a society undergoes it in terms of clothing, art, music, rituals, and conventions.

Likewise, the Bodo women's dresses have been witnessing changes in present times like every other aspect of lifestyle and art. This is being facilitated by changes in textile and motif. Globalization and modernization are other factors that contribute for the same. This also involves technological innovation such as weaving machines. This brought changes to the actual authenticity of weaving. This collective wave of change further leads to variation in culture. Change always has the chance of leaving a path open for conflict. This alteration occurs at all levels of the society. Alteration to culture can also bring conflict, which occurs at all levels in society. This however can be resolved by modifying what did not exist in the first place.

Modernization has led to substantial changes to Bodo women's attire. These changes can be witnessed among the GenZ and Millennial generation. People at present has the access to the new world changes in motif. This ranges from 'Phareomegonagor to Anarkuliagor', and their most adorn color "Gwmwgwthangbatho gang", which has now been replaced by a different mixture of color. Along with it, in respect to the comparison of old motifs with new motifs, fashion experts are of the view that old motifs were symbolic in nature. Every motif used to be inspired by nature, in contrast to the recent designs, which are based on the current fashion trend.

Hybridisation has changed the structure and pattern of motifs. Motif used to be in standard and organized form. Motifs now comes in larger shapes and sizes. Aronai, most lovable and honored by Bodo people who are incomplete without the Bonduram Kachariagor is now available without the Bonduram Kachariagor.

Modernity has had a significant impact on culture, religion, and a variety of other social institutions. It leads to changes in the social bonds that intertwine people together in traditional communities. Fashion critics are also of the view that there is no comparison between the machine-made and hand-woven Dokhona, also hand-woven Dokhona consists that emotions and feelings and that social bind that machine-made lacks.

Significance of weaving among Bodo women

Weaving is an amalgamation of the science and art of fabrics and fibers. Like most tribes of the Northeast region of India, the Bodo community have also ensured to carry along the tradition of weaving to reflect their identity. Their clothes are one of the symbol of their identity. The small-scale and large-scale Bodo weaving industries have also contributed to the socio-economic development of both the state and the nation. However, maybe it do lack behind when it comes to marking their existence in the global market, which also involves modern technology. The Bodo weaving techniques of the Bodo people are slowly being influenced by modern technology and innovation. The development has been slow yet noticeable.

Chirang district of the BTAD region of Assam possess a pleasant climate. This district touches the Indo-Bhutan border. The place has fertile soil, which is idea for agriculture and the presence of greenery. The village areas are surrounded by large groves of trees. The people from this region also plant trees like mulberry, which facilitate production of fabrics, which are then used in making local traditional handmade clothes. The women of this region weaves to make the various Bodo traditional dresses like the dokhna, arona, gamsa, fashra, hichima etc. These dresses are intricately decorated with attractive flowery designs. Women of this region have received the helping hands of certain NGOs from time to time. This has facilitated ways of income and self-employment for the women. Along with it, now they also export their clothes outside.

In the villages of Chirang, Assam, every home of the Bodo community has a loom. In the bodo community, weaving is considered as a highly valued skill in women. Aagor Daagra Afad is an organisation that was established with the aim of helping each other. It also aimed at creating a market for the weavers, which they can manage and run themselves. Moreover, it also helped the women to gain income with their traditional weaving knowledge and skill.

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