Tripura Rignai Weaving Gomati District

Rignai is the traditional handwoven wrap garment of Tripuri women produced on backstrap looms in villages across Gomati, Sepahijala, and Dhalai districts of Tripura. The Tripuri weaving tradition uses naturally-dyed handspun cotton and locally produced mulberry silk in bold geometric patterns — vertical stripes, zigzag borders, and interlocked diamond motifs in bright red, yellow, black, and white that identify clan, village, and ceremonial occasion through specific colour combinations. The backstrap loom (thabla) consists of a continuous warp mounted on two bamboo sticks — one tied to a fixed post, the other strapped around the weaver's lower back. The weaver's body tension controls the warp tightness while the feet rest against a fixed point. Pattern is built by inserting coloured weft yarns in a specific sequence using a supplementary weft pick-up stick. The resulting Rignai fabric is used as a lower-body wrap (similar to a sarong) worn at festivals, marriages, and the Kharchi Puja religious ceremony. Garo and Bodo communities in neighbouring districts have their own distinct weaving traditions. Tripura State Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation markets Rignai and other tribal textiles. Contemporary designers adapt Rignai fabric into urban fashion garments. Training in natural dye preparation from locally available Tripura forest plants (indigo Strobilanthes, lac, turmeric) provided by Weavers Service Centre, Agartala. GI tag application in progress for Tripura tribal textiles.