Among
the tribals the use of dress is very significant
and worthwhile. The tribals do not use dress
just merely to hide their nakedness rather
it reflects the racial feeling and their cultural
identity. The tribals use separate costumes
at the time of festivals and ceremonies. In
a specific tribe the dresses from birth to
old age has immense variety. The costumes
of the male members of the tribe and the females
are also different. It is a fact that the
female community pay more attention in covering
their body. In some tribal communities the
women folk want their male partners to be
dressed elegantly and impressively. A tribal
woman also wears a variety of dresses from
her birth to death corresponding to different
stages of her life. For instance, a Dhangedi(a
maiden) adorns with fine clothes to attract
the attention of others while the Gurumai,
the priestess wears formal clothes to worship
the goddess for the betterment of her community.
Dress also helps them in many adversities
and also helps to propitiate gods and goddesses
who safeguard them against the malevolent
atrocities of the ghosts, spirits, etc.
The
tribals also use dress according to the position
of individual in the society like the clan's
head, the priest, and the revenue collector
etc. The dress that they use at the time of
marriage, birth, death, worship etc. are also
different. They use dresses keeping in view
the occasion, age, sex and other factors.
For example, the priest does not use the normal
dress at the time of worship. And again at
the time of dancing they dress in a very attractive
manner. And the dancing costume has also special
significance. They also wear dresses in different
styles. While dressing they also keep in their
mind the surroundings. They also think of
their convenience and inconvenience while
dressing themselves for an occasion. Especially
they do not like to dress very pompously at
the time of any work. But when they go for
shopping to the near by market place or to
visit any fair or festival they dress themselves
quite exuberantly and exquisitely.
