Bodo Dokhona Endi Silk Textile Chirang Assam

The Bodo people of Chirang, Kokrajhar, and Baksa districts of Assam (the Bodoland Territorial Region) are skilled weavers who produce traditional Dokhona (women's wrap garment), Gamsa (men's cloth), and Aronai (scarf) on traditional loin looms (mekhela-style backstrap) and fly-shuttle pit looms using Endi (Ahimsa) silk from the Samia ricini silkworm and naturally dyed handspun cotton. Bodo textiles are distinguished by bold, intricate geometric warp-ikat or supplementary weft patterns in earthy colours — dark indigo, maroon, and white — derived from natural forest plant dyes. The arong (a type of Bodo jacket) is a garment unique to the community. Bodo women's textiles use supplementary weft technique to depict stylized peacock, elephant, tortoise, and floral motifs — each motif carries cultural meaning related to clan identity and occasion. Kokrajhar and Chirang Bodo women's weaving cooperatives market textiles through Bodoland Territorial Council and national craft fairs. Endi silk production — in which the Endi cocoon is opened after the silkworm pupates naturally (without killing the moth) — makes Bodo Endi a premium ahimsa silk product appealing to ethical fashion buyers. Training in export-quality weaving for fashion buyer market and natural dye revival from local Bodoland forest plants provided by the Weavers Service Centre, Guwahati.