Bonda tribe’s ringa weave: A handloom heritage that defines identity

Malakangiri: On National Handloom Day, the focus is on how women of Odisha’s Bonda tribe continue to preserve the handwoven Ringa, a cloth that defines their identity.“Every Ringa we weave carries our family’s story,” says Muduli, gently running her hand over the striped cloth she has just taken off the loom in Gokharipada village of Malkangiri district.

The Ringa is the traditional handwoven garment worn by Bonda women as a wraparound skirt. It is known for its striking horizontal stripes with bands of red, maroon, black, white and blue.

The weave has long been an emblem of the Bonda tribe, one of India’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

In Onukudelli market in Koraput district, Bonda women are often seen sporting heavy beads to cover their body and the ringa cloth as a wraparound as they return from the market.

The tradition continues to be passed down through generations, keeping the tribe’s distinct textile heritage alive.