Risa: Tripura's Signature Garment | 25 Jan 2021

The State government of Tripura aims to promote risa nationally as Tripura’s signature garment.

For this, various initiatives have been taken like providing risa uniforms to anganwadi and ASHA workers and facilitating training for making risa at Tripura Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation.
The risa is being branded under the India Handloom Brand. This supports the ‘Vocal for Local’ initiative of the central government.

About Risa:
- Risa is a handwoven cloth used as a female upper garment.
- Risa is a part of traditional Tripuri attire that comprises three parts - risa, rignai and rikutu.
  - Rignai: It is primarily worn as the lower garment and literally translates into ‘to wear’. It can be understood as an indigenous variety of the sari of mainland India.
  - Rituku: It is mainly used as a wrap, or like a ‘chunri’ or a ‘pallu’of the Indian saree.
- Sometimes, Risa is also used as headgear, a stole, or a present to express respect.
Cultural Importance:
- Adolescent Tripuri girls are first given a risa to wear in an event called Risa Sormani, at age 12 to 14.
- Risa is also used as a turban by men during weddings and festivals.
- Risa is common in almost all 19 indigenous tribal communities of Tripura. However, each community has its own designs.
- It is used in religious festivals such as Garia Puja by tribal communities.
  - Garia Puja Festival:
    - It is a major festival in Tripura, held on the last day of the month of Chaitra.
    - Celebrated as a harvest festival by the ethnic tribes - Tripuris and Reangs.
    - In this festival, the Garia dance is also performed.