Changes and continuity in Bodo Women’s Dress

This picture has been used for representative purpose only - Photo by Mao

People value and enjoy culture as a significant component of life. Traditional culture is a collection of shared experiences passed down from generation to generation. Changes in society occur in a variety of areas, including clothing, art, music, rituals, and conventions. The Bodo women traditionally wear Dokhona accompanied by Jwmgra, Dokhona is a one-piece set that gives the look of a two-piece set.

Anarkuli Agor new design photo by Sushma

In contemporary times changes in Bodo women’s dress are being witnessed on a large scale, especially changes in textile and motif. Changes in their traditional dress are brought by globalization and modernization which include technological innovation such as weaving machines in a sense which brought changes in the real authenticity of weaving and mobile phones which brought a different culture along with them. This force results in variation in culture. Alternation to culture can also bring conflict, which occurs at all levels in society, and its resolution can involve modification to what was not previously in place.

Makri Agor Old Agor photo by Sushma

Modernization has brought substantial changes to Bodo women’s attire. Mostly, changes may be witnessed among the GenZ and Millennial generation as people have access to the new world changes in motif from ' Phareo megon agor to Anarkuli agor’, and their most adorn color “Gwmw gwthang batho gang”, which is replaced by a different mixture of color, also the hybridisation of motifs, compared to the old motifs with new motifs, it can be said that old motifs were symbolic in nature, every motif was inspired by nature, whereas the recent design is based on the current fashion which is in trend.

Lophai Agor - This one is a new photo by Sushma

It has also changed the structure and pattern of motifs; the motif was in standard and organizes form, and now the motifs are in larger shapes and sizes. Aronai, most lovable and honored by Bodo people who are incomplete without the Bonduram Kachari agor is now available without the Bonduram Kachari agor.

Agor Guywi old motif photo by Sushma

Dress is an important element of our cultural identity, which distinguishes us from others by giving us a distinct identity. The concept of modernity has had a significant impact on culture, religion, and a variety of other social institutions.

It causes changes in the social bonds that bind people together in traditional communities that are broken by modernity; it is the source of capitalism. There is no comparison between the machine-made and hand-woven Dokhona, also hand-woven Dokhona consists that emotions and feelings and that social bind that machine-made lacks.

Words by Sushma Rani Basumatary