Rignai Risa Tipra Tribal Weaving Tripura

The Tripuri (Tipra) people of Tripura weave two iconic garments on traditional frame looms: Rignai (the wraparound lower cloth worn by women) and Risa (the upper cloth used as scarf, headgear, and shawl). Tripuri weaving uses cotton and wild silk in bold horizontal stripes with supplementary weft patterns of floral, faunal, and geometric motifs specific to each clan. The Rignai worn during Garia and Ker festivals is elaborately patterned with peacock and lotus motifs. Tripura State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Federation provides yarn and marketing support to over 10,000 Tripuri weavers. GI certification for Tripuri handloom is under application. Cooperative-woven Rignai and Risa are exported to handloom emporiums across India.