Risa, Rignai & Rikutu: Customary Tripuri Attaire

• 23 Jan 2021

The government of Tripura is trying to weave the Risa into its policy for self-employment.

As of 2018, Tripura had 1,37,177 handloom weavers, according to the National Handloom Census, with 60 handloom clusters. However, only a handful of them exclusively work on traditional tribal handloom.

About Risa

• Risa: It is one of the three parts of customary Tripuri female attire, the other two being the Rignai and Rikutu. It is essentially a customary handwoven cloth, is used as a head gear, stole, female
• upper cloth or presented to honour a distinguished recipient. Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given Risa to wear when they reach 12-14 years in an event called ‘Risa Sormani’. The event involves prayers to a Lampra god, where her elder women pray for her wellbeing throughout her life.
  • Rignai: It is primarily used to cover lower part of the body and literally translates into ‘to wear’.
  • Rituku: It covers the upper half of the body, wrapping it all around. However, it is also used like a ‘chunri’ or a ‘pallu’ of the Indian saree. It is also used to cover the head of newly married Tripuri women.