Risa textile of Tripura

Why in News?

The Tripura government is planning to promote Risa textile as the signature textile of Tripura nationally.

What is Risa textile?

The traditional Tripuri female attire comprises three parts — risa, rignai and rikutu.

• Risa: It is a handwoven cloth used as a female upper garment, and also as headgear, a stole, or a present to express respect. As an upper garment, it is wrapped around the torso twice.
• Rignai: It is primarily worn as the lower garment and literally translates into ‘to wear’. It can be understood as an indigenous variety of the sari of mainland India.
• Rikutu: It is mainly used as a wrap, or like a ‘chunri’ or a ‘pallu’ of the Indian sari. It is also used to cover the head of newly married Tripuri women.

Significance of Risa:

• Risa has been in circulation as an honorary stole among indigenous community leaders and tribal political leaders.
• It is common in almost all 19 indigenous tribal communities of Tripura. However, each community has its own designs.
• The garment is made in handloom or loin looms at homes. Usually, only one or two pieces are prepared in a month. Most of this art is handed down through generations. However, many of the designs were lost with the passage of time, and only a few remain.
• Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given a risa at age 12 to 14, to wear in an event called Risa Sormani.
• It is also used for other purposes such as;
  • in religious festivals such as Garia Puja by tribal communities,
  • In weddings and festivals as a turban by men,
  • headscarf by young girls and boys and
  • during winters as a muffler.

Source: Indian Express