nat shu-man (Dance Sash)

Dance sashes are woven by women specially for their boyfriends/lovers. Because of the sentiment behind these they are highly prized by the recipients and therefore difficult to acquire. The sashes are worn on special occasions for festivals or feasts, the man wearing it over his left shoulder and diagonally across his chest to his right hip. The fringed end at the front then attaches with a needle or a pin to the other fringed end that crosses his back and wraps around (from left to right) to the right hip.

This sash was woven by Dramase clanswoman Alifoor in Balanguru village, and owned by a man from the Bagalia clan in the same village.

Long white sash divided into fourteen uneven, multi-coloured, woven sections. There are several design styles represented including the “mi-shar-ri chot” or mixed design, “o-si-chin gam-bu-ri chot” or sallow tree flower design, “bir-ra kum-ba chot” or male goat/markhor crossed horn design, “pati-chot” or woman’s waist band design “pati-chot/pon-du-i-ruk” or small circle design (which appears as diamond shaped) and “shin-guk chot” or goat horn design. There are fringes on either end of the sash which are light brown and multi-coloured wool. There is also a willow loop that encircles the sash for fastening.