mekhela

Updated: May 28, 2025

Over this is worn a long piece of cloth, sometimes of muga silk, called ka jainsem. This is not worn like the Assamese mekhela or Bengali sari, for it hangs loosely from the shoulders down to a little above the ankles, and is not caught in at the waist in fact, Khasi women have no waist. It is kept in position by knotting it over both the shoulders.

P. R. T. (Philip Richard Thornhagh) Gurdon - The Khasis