Dimasa Attire
snippets writeups
Dimasa Attire
Dimasa girls wearing Rijamphain Beren, Rigu, and Rikhaosa
Image Source: Pilpili Bathari
The Dimasa people are a relatively small indigenous tribe in India’s North-East region, with a vibrant cultural tradition deeply rooted in their history. They primarily reside in Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, with a majority living in Assam, particularly in the Dima Hasao district (formerly North Cachar Hills) and the adjoining areas of Karbi Anglong. The Dimasa language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman language family and is classified under the Bodo-Garo group. Dimasa has several dialects and speech variations, reflecting their geographical distribution. The Hasao dialect, spoken in the Dima Hasao region of Assam, is one of the prominent dialects within the Dimasa language.
A Dimasa Bride
Image Source: Pilpili Bathari
The traditional attire worn by Dimasa women consists of a 3-piece ensemble: a Rigu, Rijamphain, and Rikhaosa. The Rigu is a wrap-around skirt featuring rikhu (designs) woven along the bottom of the cloth. Along with Rigu, Dimasa women wear a plain chest wrapper called Rijamphain. The Rijamphain beren is another garment used to cover the torso, best known for its distinctive stripes. It features a broad white portion and colourful stripes in yellow, orange, green, black, and red. It is mostly worn on special occasions, such as Dishengba (wedding ceremony) and Busu (harvest festival), and when performing the Baidima (traditional Dimasa dance).
Rikhaosa is a long, broad scarf used to cover the upper body by both men and women. These scarves are fabricated in a vibrant range of colours, with yellow being the most common. Eri silk and cotton yarns have historically been popular for weaving various Dimasa traditional wear; however, in recent years, cotton yarn has been replaced by more affordable synthetic yarns, such as polyester and nylon.
Dimasa Girls in colourful Rigu sets
Image Source: Sneha Longmailai
The Rigu set is a modern clothing style adopted by the Dimasa people that combines traditional elements with contemporary fashion. This two-piece set includes the Rigu and a draped cloth resembling the Assamese Mekhela Chador but featuring distinct designs and elements specific to Dimasa culture. The most common designs are Bathormai (parrot’s beak with one-line motif), Baitha (Paddle/Boat oar), and Nagurlai (fish scale).
Seen here are the Rigu, Rijamphain beren, and Rikhaosa, along with accessories such as Chandrawal, Jongsama, Khadu, Rangbarsha, and Phowal.
Image Source: Pilpili Bathari
Ornaments and accessories play a significant role in enhancing Dimasa women’s attire. Some of the most common ones are: Phowal (necklace made of coral and silver metal beads), Jongsama (necklace made of plastic microbeads), Rangbarsha (necklace made of coins), Chandrawal (necklace made of three silver chains with a floral shape), Rmailik (necklace made of plastic microbeads, with patterns similar to that of the Rijamphain beren), Khadu (silver bangle), Khamaothai (silver/gold earring), and Yaoshidam (ring).
Dimasa Men and Women during Busu Dima celebrations. The Men can be seen wearing Risha (a short loincloth) and Rigdo (worn here as a sash and headscarf).
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Risha is an important part of the traditional Dimasa male attire. It is a short, knee-length loincloth secured around the waist. It serves as everyday men’s clothing because it is practical and comfortable for domestic use. Rigdo is a scarf worn by both men and women, while the Remshou is a shawl worn only by Dimasa men. The Remshou is woven from cotton and mostly worn during winter to stay warm. Sgaopha is a white turban, tied to the chin with a red ribbon. The colour white symbolises purity, while the red ribbon represents spiritual significance. This headgear is exclusively worn by men, especially during significant events and religious festivals. The Dimasa men wear only two types of ornaments: Yaocher and Kharik.
The Dimasa traditional attire is a multifaceted aspect of their cultural heritage, serving not only as clothing but also as a representation of their identity and artistic expression.