The sarees of Shillong
The hill capital of Meghalaya, home to Khasi dress, eri silk from the state, and the Iewduh market.
Motifs of Shillong
Woven here
Best time: October to April; avoid the heavy monsoon months of June to August.
Shillong is the capital of Meghalaya and the centre of Khasi life. Khasi women wear the jainsem dhara, a wrapped dress of cloth with a shawl worn over the shoulder. Meghalaya is also known for eri silk, spun and woven in villages, and for cloth woven by the Garo and other communities.
What is woven here
The Khasi dress is a wrapped and layered set of cloths, with the dhara as the lower cloth and a shawl fastened on the shoulder. Festive sets are woven in silk, and there are striped and checked patterns. Eri silk is spun from cocoons of a silkworm that feeds on castor leaves, and is woven into warm, soft cloth. Cotton cloths are also woven in the Garo hills.
The craft and its people
Weaving in Meghalaya is done by women of the Khasi, Garo and Jaintia communities, in homes in villages. The state has a long tradition of rearing eri silk, mostly in the Ri-Bhoi area. The craft is encouraged by state schemes, and the cloth is sold through emporia and local markets.
Seeing it
Iewduh, also called Bara Bazar, is the city's old and large market, where traditional cloth, food and goods are sold. The Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures has extensive displays on the peoples of the northeast, including their dress and weaving. Shops in the city sell Khasi dress and eri silk shawls and stoles.
A trail idea for Shillong
- Iewduh market Walk the old market to see Khasi dress and cloth sold alongside everyday goods.
- Don Bosco Centre for Indigenous Cultures Learn about the peoples of the northeast, with galleries of costume and textiles.
- An eri silk shop or cooperative Ask how the silk is spun and woven, and feel the warmth of the cloth.
Written by the EveryPallu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Shillong" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and workshops change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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