ARTS AND CRAFTS OF NORTHEAST INDIA

Northeast India is the home of a large number of tribes and sub-tribes. They have a vigorous craft
tradition and every tribe excels in craftsmanship: this excellence manifests itself in the various
products its members produces. The main art and crafts of each state of Northeast India are given
below:
Arunachal Pradesh (Introduction / Factfile)
Arunachal Pradesh has a vibrant craft tradition and every tribe excels at craftsmanship and their
excellence manifests itself in the various products its members produces. The ambit of crafts
includes- carpet making, masks, painted wood vessels, bamboo and cane crafts, weaving,
woodcarvings, jewellery and other miscellaneous crafts. This includes- hand made pottery, brass
cutting, silver works etc. they also make numerous articles with goat hair, ivory, boars tusks, beads of
agate, and other stones as well as of brass and glass.
Assam (Introduction / Factfile)
Assam is predominantly agricultural and her people have excelled in a rich variety of arts and crafts.
The panorama encompasses handloom weaving, cane and bamboo works, sitalpith, brass and bell
metal works, ivory, wood-work, sholapith, pottery and fiber craft. Handloom weaving comprises the
culture of endi, muga and mulberry silk.
Manipur (Introduction / Factfile)
Manipur has contributed to the richness and variety of Indian culture with its peculiar blend of tribal
traditions and Vaishnavism. Of the numerous colourful crafts of Manipur, special mention may be
made of their textiles, strong bell metal bowls, cane and bamboo and mats made of spongy reeds.
Manipur is also well known for its gold and gold plated jewellery- earrings, necklace, armlets and
bracelets. Beautiful dolls and toys of straw and clay are also made in Manipur.
Meghalaya (Introduction / Factfile)
Meghalaya is known for various art and crafts. Cane and bamboo holds a prime place. Artistic textile
weaving and woodcarving is practiced in Garo hills. Silk weaving of Endi silk is very famous. Carpet
weaving, ornaments, musical instruments are other especialities. But the unique craft of this state is
Pineapple fiber articles a in which fiber from its leaves is utilized for making various types of nets,
bags and purses. Meghalaya is culturally very rich in the area of dance and music. The different types
of dances are Nohkjot, Mastieh, Shad wait, Shadynti etc.
Mizoram (Introduction / Factfile)
There are a number of craftsman and skilled artisans among the mizos. Their significant crafts
include- weaving, bamboo and cane craft, pipes, jewellery and musical instruments. Weaving is an
integral part of Mizo culture. Bamboo and cane works are equally of importance in Mizoram.
Nagaland (Introduction / Factfile)
Nagaland is an important part of the colourful culture if India. The arts and crafts of Nagaland include
the weaving, basketry, woodwork and jewellery making etc. The Naga people prepare different
products using shell and beads, birds wings and flowers. Like weaving, pot making is exclusively a
womans craft. Nagas make earthen pots by hand without the use of wheel. The Naga people also
prepare woodcarvings generally associated with the religious beliefs and practices, apart from
preparing objects for daily use like utensils etc.
Tripura (Introduction / Factfile)
Tripura has a large population of tribals, thus has a tradition of different kinds of crafts. Handloom is
the most important craft of the state. The main feature of Tripura handloom is vertical and horizontal
stripes with scattered embroidery in different colours. It is followed by cane and bamboo craft.
Popular handicraft items are bamboo screens, lamp stands, tablemats, sitalpati, woodcarving, silver
ornaments and other crafts that are practiced. Simplicity is the hallmark of brass and bell metal
articles provided in Tripura.


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Introduction

Ornaments

Weapons

Wood-Carving

Mask-Dance

Smoking pipes

Dances and Music

Pottery

Assam
o

Introduction

Woodwork and Carpentry

Sital pati (cool mat)

Manipur
o

Introduction

Myths about origin of pottery in Manipur

Common use of pottery

Technique of pottery- making

Firing of Pots

Colouring

Places associated with pottery making in Manipur

Financial Returns

Dance

Forms

Songs and Music

Meghalaya
o

Introduction

Dances

Agricultural Dances

General Ornaments

Male Ornaments

Some of the traditional - ornaments of Garos

Musical Instruments

Other Instruments

Mizoram
o

Introduction

Dances

Ornaments

Songs

Weapons

Nagaland
o

Introduction

Pottery-making

Wood-Carving

Kharu ( the wooden-gate)

Log-drums

Blacksmithy

Musical instruments

Ornaments

Glossary

Tripura
o

Introduction

Folk songs

Tripura folklore

Legends

Proverbs

Riddles

List of Museums - holding collection of northeastern pottery

Annotated Bibliography: Miscellaneous Arts and Crafts

Textiles

Annotated Bibliography for Textiles

Types of looms

View Digital Images

Lion loom

Throw Shuttle

Fly Shuttle

Tribal Loom

Glossary

Textiles - Arunachal Pradesh

Introduction

The Procedure

Textile patterns of the various tribes of

Adi

Apa Tani

Mishmi

Wancho

Hrussos

Sherdukpens

Tuensung

Pailibos

Singphos

Textiles - Assam
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Introduction

Sericulture of Assam

Assamese Vaishnavite Silks

Weaving and Spinning

Dyeing

Textiles and Dresses of the Different

Bodo

Dimasa Kachchari

Mech Kachchari

Aitunia

Thai Phakes

Textiles - Manipur
o

Introduction

Production of cotton

Design and embroidery used in

The Design of Tribals

Kabui Nagas

Hmars

Kuki

Paiteis

Thangkhul Naga

Glossary

Textiles - Meghalaya
o

Introduction

Technique of Weaving

The Textiles used by the various

Khasi

Man

Khynrium

Koch

War Khasi

Mikir

Bhoi Khasi

Lalung

Khasi Muslim

Boro

Jaintia

The Assamese

Garo

Marwari

Rabha

Nepali

Hajong

Glossary

Textiles - Mizoram
o

Introduction

Technique of Production

Dyeing

The dresses worn by the Tribes of

Mizoram

Lusei

Hmars

Paiteis

Riang

Glossary

Textiles - Nagaland
o

Introduction

Technique of Spinning

Dyeing

Technique of Weaving

Painting on Cloth

Design and Symbols in Textiles of

Glossary

Textiles - Tripura
o

Introduction

Weaving and Handloom

Technique of Weaving

Designs and symbols on the textile of

Khakloo

Halam

Lushei

o Kuki-Chin tribe