Assam Dokhona Riha Traditional Weaving Textiles

The dokhona and riha are the traditional woven textiles of Assamese women, worn as lower and upper garments respectively at ceremonies and daily wear. The dokhona (saree-style lower cloth) and riha (upper wrap) are woven on the loin loom and backstrap loom by women of the Mising, Ahom, Bodo, and other Assamese communities. Each community has distinct dokhona patterns — the Mising dokhona has fine horizontal stripes in natural colours; the Ahom dokhona has intricate jamdani-style supplementary weft motifs. The riha worn by Brahmin Assamese women for Bihu is the most elaborately patterned. Assam state government programs promote the dokhona-riha tradition through cooperative support, training, and exhibition. The Assam Handloom Corporation coordinates marketing. Contemporary fashion designers have incorporated Assamese dokhona patterns into contemporary sarees and apparel. Export of Assamese traditional textiles is growing through craft NGOs and online platforms.