Tripuri Risa Riha Rignai Weaving Agartala Tripura

The Tripuri textile tradition of Risa, Riha, and Rignai forms the sacred and ceremonial clothing system of the Borok people of Tripura, woven by women on the loin-tension backstrap loom from fine cotton and, in older examples, from mulberry silk. The Risa is a hand-woven breast cloth worn by women at puberty ceremonies, festivals, and marriage; the Riha is the upper wrap; and the Rignai is the lower wraparound skirt, together constituting the complete female dress. Each garment is characterised by a different combination of red and black geometric supplementary-weft borders woven against a white or undyed cotton ground, with the density and complexity of the border motif indicating the occasion and the weaver skill. Patterns include the Hir motif representing fish scales, the Maitai diamond, and the Thachwi leaf scroll, each with specific ceremonial appropriateness governed by community custom. The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council provides loom and yarn support through the Tripura Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation, and Risa-Riha-Rignai ensemble weaving is featured in the Tribal Museum at Agartala.