Unique motifs and textile designs of Northeast Tribes

Tangkhul Naga Traditional Dresses The Tangkhul tribe of Manipur beautifully weave 10 patterns of cloths. This practice has been passed down by the ancesters of Tangkhul tribe but with the impact of modernism, the practice is fast declining. The textile designs are inspired from nature with motifs of animals for strength and leadership quality, use of red colour to signify sun weaved in lines

Monpa Tribe, Arunachal Pradesh The Monpa Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh lays lot of emphasis on the colour red as it signifies divinity and the rising sun. Additionally, the designs on Monpa traditional attires are basically geometric or simply straight lines in white or black colour with small squares and triangles signifying mountains

Mishmi Tribe, Arunachal Pradesh The Mishmi Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh celebrate life and thus have vibrant colours on their dresses as opposed to the disciplined, sombre colours and patterns of Adi, Apatani tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. The patterns on their dresses are mostly geometrical and zig-zag lines. The use of green and yellow is common to reflect nature.

Angami Tribe, Nagaland They mostly use red colour as base and white patches in the middle portion which reflects sources of energy, purity and neutrality designed for the knowledgable people of the community.

Bodo Tribe, Assam Green is considered a symbol of maturity while the colour yellow signifies calmness. The combination of these colours with circular and pine designs is perceived as the indigenous ethnic group's expertise in paddy cultivation. Green and colour thus mirror their occupation and nature as well.

Chakhesang Naga Tribe, Nagaland Colourful and delightful to the eyes. The Chakhesang attires are brightly coloured with big animal motifs and weapons signifying strenghth and maturity. Use of flower motive is also found depicting nature with bird motifs also found in many

Sema Naga, Assam and Nagaland These rainbow coloured attires mostly use speares and shields as motifs to signify their warrior background. Not only Sema Naga tribes, but other tribes of Nagaland extensively use the motifs of shields and spears on their attires to show strength, power and ever ready for war. 

Lotha Naga, Nagaland There is a practice among the Lotha Naga tribe of Nagaland where the strongest elderly man having more physical strength is given a shawl having black and blue colours. Here the black indicates absence of selfishness and blue represents trustworthiness, dependability and commitment. 

Karbi Tribe of Assam The chadar of the Karbi tribe is called 'Inkia Namang' with different flora and fauna motifs designed or hand woven on the cloth. Animals and plants basically deer, monkey, jungle fowl, fish, fern, taro leaf dominate the designs. The cultural practices symbolically reflect the beliefs that new bride will bring prosperity to the groom's family.
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