Traditional Attire - Chyung Bala

During Kandali Festival - Year 2011

I couldn't resist myself from writing about the beautiful attire which has always been fascinated me. Have seen my mom & aunties wearing it since I was a kid. I got a chance to wear it first time in October 2011 during Kangdali (a festival which comes once in 12 years and is being celebrated by the Rungs staying in Chaudas Valley). During olden days this was the regular dress wore by the ladies and girls used to wear Gagari (A single piece full sleeves dress where the black crop top is attached to the printed frill skirt which goes till the toes. It looks more like a long frock). These days the traditional attire is being wore occasionally either on wedding, festivals or other big ceremonies.

Maa & Mashi - Chhangru 2015

During ancient times chyung-bala fabric was hand weaved by the people at home using handmade wool's. Then it used to be dyed using the colours (for black colour Tind Che and for red colour Mungd Che were being used). Then it was hand stitched. Silk threads were being used to do hand embroidery on clothes. 

Once dress is ready, final touch was given to it by sewing a handmade lace around the corners of Chyung-Bala. For red ones black lace & for black ones red lace were being used. The lace was constructed by tightly braiding 7 layers of thick woolen threads and then dyeing it to either black or red colors.

These days things have been made easier, as you get the ready-made fabric and tailors which can stitch this dress for you. But the texture & beauty which ancient clothes had is missing in new ones.

Attire details:
It is not a single piece dress, but has many sections. It doesn't come in a particular size like S/M/L instead it is designed such a way that any lady can fit into it, so the good part is one dress can be shared by many in the family ;). Below is details of each section of the clothes from head to toe:

• Chyukati - This is the part of attire which is wore on the head. It has two layers top layer & bottom layer. Top layer has two parts printed & plain off-white, for printed part either velvet or woollen clothe is being used & off-white part which touches the forehead is made out of Dhora. The bottom layer is made of off-white clothes called Nagal.

• Chyung -  A hand weaved cloths which is given the shape of a top. This can be of maroon/red or black.

  

  In Chhangru - Year 2015

• Gyetak Rankalch - Attachable sleeves. These are tied to each other with a thread while wearing.

• Bala -  A hand weaved loose straight cut skirt which is wrapped around the waist line. This can be of maroon or black colors. Usually if top is red the bottom is black and vice-versa. 

• Bala Jang - A belt made out of a off-white cotton clothes, used for tying the skirt (Bala).

• Jyojang -  It's wore on top of the Chyung-Bala around the waist line, to tighten the complete dress.

• Tinkhaf - A tippet which is wore over the shoulders. This is used occasionally (during the wedding Tishya & groom wears it) with attire.

• Babch  -  This is a shoe made out of cotton and silk threads. It doesn't have a left or right part, from the pair anything can be wore to left or to right foot. This is manufactured only in Tibet. 

Traditional Ornaments:

Traditional Dance during Kangdali - Year 2011

The full look in this dress is not complete without accompanying it with traditional jewelries. The must have traditional ornaments includes following silver jewelries.

• Chandrar  - A traditional ornament wore around the neck which goes above knee level. This can be identified by the thick pendant. 

• Baldhang - A traditional ornament wore around the neck, the length comes below knee level. This can be identified by the coins around it.

• Baha - A traditional ornament wore around the wrist.

• Beerabali - A traditional ornament wore around the forehead which flows below cheeks & ears. This is my favourite among all the silver jewelries listed here :)

• Kanaki -  An ornament which has 5 layers, and is being wore above the Chandrar. The 5 layers in this jewellery makes it different from others.  

• Chamakali - An ornament which has only one layer with spikes, and being wore around the neck.

• Khongale - Its a kind of choker, which is wore around the neck. This has a thick square shape pendent at the middle and it gets thinner towards both the corners. It is tied to neck using a thread. 

*A Big Thanks to my Grand-mom & Mom for explaining me.* I had tried my best to write whatever I could remember from the conversation I had with them. I will be updating this post with more attire & ornament pictures whenever I get a chance to click them.