Potloi Meitei Bridal Costume Imphal Manipur

Potloi is the traditional Meitei bridal cylindrical skirt costume of Manipur, one of the most technically elaborate ceremonial dress forms in India, worn by the bride during the Meitei wedding ritual (Luhongba) and Manipuri Raas Leela dance performance. The Potloi is a rigid cylindrical skirt framework constructed from split bamboo and cane strips woven into a barrel form, wrapped in layers of silk cloth (Phanek) in crimson, green, and gold, and embellished with embroidered silk panels, gold zari borders, and tiny mirror inlay along the hem. The complete assembly weighs four to six kilograms and holds the bride upright in a formal posture for the three to five hour wedding ceremony. The cylindrical form is built over three days by specialist Potloi makers who tightly wrap successive layers of silk, secure them with hand-stitched thread, and attach the embroidered panels. The matching headpiece (Kokthumbi) is a conical headdress of silk and ornamental comb. Potloi costume design is governed by traditional sumptuary standards, with specific colour combinations reserved for specific castes and occasions. Potloi making is a specialized hereditary skill practiced by approximately 200 artisan families in Imphal East and Bishnupur districts. Demand for Potloi increases for the Yaoshang (Holi) and Ningol Chakouba festival seasons.