Of-India.com

Locales, beautiful nature, fresh and calm surroundings have made Meghalaya to be a land of eternal beauty.  Three dominant tribes comprise the main population of the state are the Garos, the Khasis and the Jaintia. It is interesting to know that the Garos are the most skilled weavers of the region. Almost every family earns their livelihood through weaving. The traditional costume for women, called Jainsen, is an unstitched garment wrapped around to cover the body. It is woven from mulberry silk cultivated in the local region. The crowning glory of the costume of Meghalaya is the Endi silk shawl.

In the remote areas of Garo hill villages, the women wrap a short cloth round the waist known as eking. On the other hand, men put on a loincloth. But the Garo women go for a longer version of cotton dress in the crowded zones. A Garo woman wears a blouse, and wears a Lungi like piece of unstitched cloth called Dakmanda, by tying it round the waist. The Dakmanda is an example of hand-woven cotton fabric with attractive motifs or floral patterns on the border of the cloth. The traditional costume of the Khasi man in Meghalaya is unstitched lower attire with Dhoti, completed by a jacket and turban. However, in the recent times, men dress up in traditional garments only in social functions and events.

Meghalayan women love to get adorned with earrings and other golden and silver ornaments. It is a custom to dress in head ornaments, like, a silver circlet worn round the head as a forehead decoration. Both the Khasis and the Jayantis, wear pure gold pendant known as Kynjri Ksiar. The dressing style of Meghalaya compliments the scenic beauty of the region.