The sarees of Agartala
The capital of Tripura, where Tripuri women wear the rignai and risa, woven cloth in bold borders on a loin loom.
Motifs of Agartala
Woven here
Best time: October to March.
Agartala is the capital of Tripura, in the far east. Tripuri women traditionally wear a three-piece dress of woven cloth: the rignai, a wrapped lower cloth, the risa, a cloth for the upper body, and the rikutu, a wrapping cloth. The cloth is woven by hand in bright patterns.
What is woven here
The rignai is a wrapped lower garment, woven on a loin loom, usually with a decorated border and bands of colour. The risa covers the chest and is often woven in a contrasting pattern. Patterns are geometric, in colours such as white, red, green and black, in bands that lie across the cloth. Tripura also produces a cotton cloth and cane and bamboo crafts.
The craft and its people
Weaving is done by women of the Tripuri and other indigenous communities of the state, in homes in villages. The craft is supported by the state's handloom department and by cooperative societies. Bengali weavers in the state also make saris of cotton and silk, so Agartala's cloth markets show both traditions.
Seeing it
The Ujjayanta Palace, once the royal residence and now the State Museum, has displays on the tribes of Tripura and their dress. Government emporia and local markets in Agartala sell rignai and risa sets, and some craft cooperatives can arrange visits to weavers in nearby villages.
A trail idea for Agartala
- Ujjayanta Palace and State Museum See displays on the tribal communities of the state and their dress.
- A handloom emporium Compare rignai and risa in different patterns, and ask how long a set takes to weave.
- A village weaving cooperative With a local guide, visit a loom household in a village near the city.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Agartala" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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