Woman's garment (kira)

Three woven panels were sewn together to form this traditional woman's costume (kira). Worn wrapped around the body, it is belted at the waist and hooked with silver ornaments at the shoulders.

The basic warp (the long threads) is of cotton. The motifs were woven in silk in the supplementary weft (short threads) technique.
The top and bottom are of plain stripes. Vertical bands on the right and left edges are intricately woven with multicolor designs. The main area of the kira bears alternating wide and narrow horizontal bands, each band separated by a narrow, wandering strip of swastikas. In Buddhism the swastika represents continuity and eternity, its presence on the kira calling forth long life for the wearer. The bands are filled with various motifs, such as swastikas, chevrons, and squares.