Dress and Ornaments

Dress

Dokhona

Dokhona is the main traditional dress for Bodo women. It’s a long piece of cloth, 2.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. Women wrap it around their bodies from the chest to the ankles, tying it around the waist. It’s usually made of red silk mixed with yellow, pink, and mauve colors, with decorative ribbons along the sides. Different designs and colors are woven into the fabric, with yellow being a popular choice. Pure dokhona is worn for special occasions like weddings or festivals.

Jwmgra

Jwmgra is an upper garment worn by Bodo women, often made of yellow silk or cotton with interwoven ribbons in red, green, orange, and blue. It’s about 264 cm long and 107 cm wide. It’s used as a shawl or scarf along with the dokhona, woven with patterns like goose eyes and vertical stripes.

Aronai

Aronai is a small scarf woven by Bodo women, symbolizing tradition and used for various purposes like honoring people and in Bodo dances. It’s a symbol of love and respect, often presented by Bodo girls to loved ones. Aronai comes in different designs and colors, like red, green, and yellow.

Gamsha

Gamsha is a traditional male garment worn at home or during dances. It’s 1.5 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, covering the waist to the knee when tied around the waist. Gamsha comes in various colors like green, yellow, and sometimes mixed colors. Green gamsha is often worn as a wedding dress. Additionally, a locally woven shawl made of white cotton with black and yellow lines is used by both men and women for warmth, with fringes at the end.

Ornaments

Ashan (Bengals)

Ashan are bangles, which are circular ornaments worn around the wrist. They come in various materials like metal, glass, or even wood, and often have intricate designs.

Khera (Earrings)

Khera refers to earrings, which are pieces of jewelry worn on the ears. They can be simple studs or elaborate dangly designs, made from materials like gold, silver, or beads.

Nakhaful (Nose ring)

Nakhaful is a nose ring, worn in the nostril. It’s a small piece of jewelry that adds beauty to the face. Nose rings can be simple studs or hoops, and they come in various designs.

Ashtab (Ring)

Ashtab is a ring worn on the finger. Rings can be made of metal, with or without gemstones, and are often worn as symbols of love, commitment, or simply as decorative pieces.

Fhulkuri Sona (Traditional Boro Earring)

Fhulkuri Sona refers to traditional Bodo earrings. These earrings are often crafted with gold and are known for their intricate designs, symbolizing cultural heritage and identity. They are worn on special occasions and are cherished for their craftsmansh ip and beauty.