MUSIC, CRAFTS AND COSTUMES

Location: Meghalaya
Musical Significance: Related To Occasions Of Birth Marriage, Festivals, Love And Heroic Deeds.
Major Crafts: Weaving, Basket Making, Mat Weaving

Meghalaya Guide

CRAFTS
Weaving is an ancient craft of the tribals of Meghalaya - be it weaving of cane or cloth. The Khasis are famous for weaving cane mat, stools and baskets. They make a special kind of cane mat called 'Tlieng', which guarantees a good utility of around 20-30 years. The Garos weave the material used for their costumes called the 'Dakmanda'. Khasis and Jaintias also weave cloth. The Khasis have also been involved in extracting iron ore and then manufacture domestic knives, utensils and even guns and other warfare weapons using it.

SONGS AND MUSIC
Jaintia Musician, Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya The Garos generally sing folk songs relating to birth, marriage, festivals, love and heroic deeds sung to the accompaniments of different types of drums and flutes.

The Khasis and Jaintias are particularly fond of songs praising the nature like lakes, waterfalls, hills, etc. and also expressing love for their land. They use different types of musical instruments like drums, 'Duitara' and instruments similar to guitar, flutes, pipes and cymbals.

COSTUMES AND JEWELLERY
The three major tribes of Meghalaya have distinct costumes and jewellery. However, with the change of time as in the rest of the country, the males have adopted the western code of dress leaving the ladies to continue the tradition of ethnic sartorial elegance. Khasi Dance, Meghalaya

Khasi Attires
The Khasi lady wears a dress called 'Jainsem' which flows loose to the ankles. The upper part of her body is clad in a blouse. Over these, she ties both ends of a checkered cotton cloth on one shoulder, thus improvising on apron. On formal occasions, worn over the 'Jympien' is a long piece of Assam Muga silk called 'Ka Jainsem Dhara', which hangs loose below the knees after being knotted or pinned at the shoulders. The 'Tapmohkhlieh' or head-shawl is either worn by knotting both ends behind the neck or is arranged in a stylish manner as done with a shawl.

Jaintia Attires
The Jaintia maidens dress like her Khasi counterpart but with the additional of a 'Kyrshah' - a checkered cloth tied round the head during harvesting. Bamboo Art of Meghalaya On formal occasions, however, she dons a velvet blouse, drapes a striped cloth called 'Thoh Khyrwang', sarong style round her waist and knots at her shoulder an Assam Muga piece hanging loose to her ankles. In contrast, the Garo women wear a blouse, raw cotton 'Dakmanda', which resembles a 'Lungi' and the 'Daksari', which wrapped like a 'Mekhla' as worn by Assamese ladies.

Accessories
The jewellery of the Khasis and the Jaintias are also alike and the pendant is called 'Kynjri Ksiar', being made of 24-carat gold. The Khasis and the Jaintias also wear a string of thick red coral beads round their neck called 'Paila during festive occasions. The Garo ladies wear Rigitok, which are thin fluted stems of glass strung by fine thread.

Your Name
Country
Your Email
Your Phone

Thar Desert	Kerala Backwaters
Ajanta Ellora Caves	Goa Beaches
Corbett Park	Himalayas
Khajuraho

Taj Mahal	Elephanta Caves
Fathehpur Sikri	Agra Fort
Konark Temple	Qutub Minar

Adventure	Ayurveda
Architecture	Beaches
Arts and Crafts	Festivals
Pilgrimage	Heritage

Agra	Delhi
Jaipur	Mumbai
Bangalore	Kerala
Goa