Sunday 14 July 2013

Dimasa Jewelleries and Ornaments.

My blog on the Dimasa Textiles having being completed, I thought that this time I should focus on the jewelleries used by  Dimasa women. Hence this is my second blog -"Dimasa jewelleries and ornaments". The jewelleries/ornaments of the Dimasas in the picture here belongs to my mother, Mrs.Prabhati Thaosen and few of the pictures of jewelleries are collected from Joymala Nunisa's "Rihdima Enterprise, Guwahati" . I offer my gratitude to both of them.


  • The Dimasa women adorn themselves with beautiful jewelleries made of precious and semi precious stone like coral( Phowal- in Dimasa Language), metals like Silver and coins during the festive occasion like "Bushu". Khadu(Bracelet or bangles) , Rangbarsha(necklace made of coins), Jongsama, Rmailik, Khamaothai(earings), and Shukhep(headgears) are names the traditional ornaments of the Dimasa tribes. These ornaments/jewelleries, clothes and handlooms of Dimasa women are inherited by their daughters or in absence of daughter, the jewelleries or ornaments will be passed  on to her nearest female relative of her same female clan "Jahdi".



     Various Dimasa Jewelleries made of precious stone like Coral, Silver metal and coins.


  • RMAILIK:
RMAILIK is a combination of two words RMAI + LIK;  "RMAI" means  the colourful stripes of yellow(orange), green, yellow, black,blue and white used in the upper garment "Rijamphain-beren" and "Lik" means "beaded necklace", altogether it means a beaded necklace of colourful stripes -yellow, green, black, red and white. Rmailik is made out of colourful micro beads.It is worn by Dimasa females

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Left:Rmailik and Right Rijamphain-Beren(rmai)
This pictures shows that the  Rmailik necklace is inspired from
colours used in Rijamphain Beren(Rmai) traditonal cloth. 
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  • JONGSAMA: 
Jongsama is a necklace made of coloured micro-beads,coral stones and beads made from real silver metal, and are worn by Dimasa females.

 


Jongsama in different colours:

                           





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  • PHOWAL: 
Phowal is a necklace made from coral and real silver faceted beads, worn by both the  males and females of Dimasa tribe.
The real coral stone and silver metal.

Ancient Phowal made from coral stone and silver metal.






A modern Phowal: due to scarcity and expenses of corals,  the red coloured and metal beads became an  alternative for it.





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  • RANGBERSHA:

Necklace made of silver coins and beads, worn by Dimasa females.



Rangbersha made from real silver and red beads


 Today's Rangbersa

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  • CHANDRAWAL:

A necklace made of flower shaped silver chain of three(four sometimes) rows, worn by Dimasa Females.Chandrawal made of three rows is called Chandrawal Renshi, four  rows - Chandrawal Renbri and one row is called Chandrawal Renshi.



Chandrawal



                 
Chandrawal Renshi( one row)

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  • KHADU:
Khadu is translated as "Bangle or Bracelet" in Dimasa language. Khadu is made from pure silver.



Khadu made from pure silver.


Backpart of Khadu
     
                
  

A Dimasa Girl showcasing her Khadu and Chandrawal.(Photo source google)


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  • KHMAOTHAI: 
Khmaothai means "earring" in Dimasa language. It is Bullet like shaped earrings made from pure silver.


Dimasa Earring made from pure silver.


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  • SHUKHEP:
Shukhep is a headgear of colour stripes worn by Dimasa females.




Beautiful Dimasa Girls adorning themselves with shukheps(headgears) and other ornaments below:



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  • Thank you for passing by. If you are interested in buying Dimasa jewelleries you may contact: RIHDIMA ENTERPRISE GUWAHATI:                                                                        Address: House no.11, 18th East Byelane, Sundarpore, Zooroad, Guwahati, Assam, India. contact no: +918473830060 (Mrs.Joymala Nunisa Daolagupu)