 The performance of Nongkrem dance requires the dancers to dress opulently and also be adorned with various kinds of ornaments. The ornaments that the Khasi girls wear are well designed and are usually made of gold. All the female dancers' puts on a crown called Pansu-giat, earrings and necklaces which are made of either gold or pearls or corals. They also wear armlets called Syngkha or Mahu. The girls wear a variety of necklaces which are made of various designs. Some are of red-beads while the others are made of corals with golden balls. Apart from these the silver and gold chains are also worn as shoulder ornaments which are known as Tad-Tyrpeng. The neck ornament that they wear is known as Chik in Bengali and Shan-Ryngang in Khasi. Women also adore themselves with bracelets called Khadu and rings Sati. Girls tie their hair neatly at the back of their heads like a bun which is known as Khonpa in Bengali and decorate it with a gold tassel known as Sai-Khyllong. They do not wear nose rings.
Female dancers wear expensive silk cloth around their waist that extends to their ankles and a full-sleeved velvet jacket of either black or brown colour. A piece of silken cloth also hangs from one side of the shoulders known as Kyrshah-Dhara. They also wear a sort of under-garment known as Nohta Sor. The male dancers also wear neck ornaments such as necklaces, shoulder ornaments and ear-rings. While dancing they put on a turban called as Jingspong with a yellow-red colour plume i.e. Thuia. A sling is tied to the left side of the shoulder to put arrows. The male dancers wear a belt made of either gold or silver and behind that belt again a plume is kept. The male dancers put on sleeveless coats made of either velvet or 'Banat.' These are generally made of dark colours with gold embroidery work done. They also wear a dhoti of the same Dhara like the girls wear. During this particular festival the silk attires worn by the male and the female dancers are made by a special class of weavers, known as Salkuchi of Sylhet. Apart from these weavers no other weavers are allowed to prepare the dresses for the Khasis. Cotton dresses are woven at the Khasi hills. According to the Khasi mythology these dresses were earlier manufactured in Tibet and Burma but gradually the Salkuchis monopolised it. (Last Updated on : 22-10-2013) |
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