Dr. Ivy Dhar spoke on ‘Ka Jainsem Dhara’
Oral Traditions: Continuity and Transformations, Northeast India and Southeast Asia, Shillong (1st-4th February, 2016);Conference
Description
Dr. Ivy Dhar spoke on ‘Ka Jainsem Dhara’, the Khasi attire, which has an extensive cultural history within Northeast India. It explores an aspect of exchange between the hills and the plains, and how the geographical proximity of Assam and Meghalaya has influenced the social and cultural interactions. ‘Dharas’, are woven in silk by weavers in Assam. This contemporary yet traditional activity represents a material connection to the past, while the evolution in materials and techniques used, labour and market, are remembered as memories, varying in many narratives. The costumes are a powerful reflection of communities’ presence in the social world – as metaphors of identity, representation and recognition. Costumes contribute in keeping communities alive in the collective memory. This presentation encouraged an open discussion among the audience, on the observations around the costume worn by the Khasi women. The discussion in turn, drawing from the experiences of people closely associated with the making, selling, wearing or understanding of Dharas, brought various insights into the intangible cultural meanings.
Project Title
Oral Traditions: Continuity and Transformations, Northeast India and Southeast Asia, Shillong
DOCUMENT TYPE
image
Identifier:
SC_32
Related Term
Oral Traditions
Related place
Shillong
USE RESTRICTIONS
In Copyright
RIGHTS HOLDER
INTACH
