Bhubaneswar: Visitors can visit the State Tribal Museum virtually by opening the Facebook and Twitter pages @stscdev, @scstrti on 18th January and can see the
video on Lanjia Saora Attire.
The Lanjia Saora Community lives in a scattered settlement in Gajapati and Raygada districts of Odisha. The men are easily recognized by their distinct
attire. Be it coarse cotton cloth, their white loin cloth, with red fringes locally called Arsi olekan, is worned so that both the embodied ends hang down in the
front and back like a tail or Lanjia. The draping of this garment gives the community the name Lanjia Saora. The men wear a few ornaments purchased
from the local market. For ceremonial occasions a tuft of white feathers is attached to their head dress and a string of bells worn on top of a length of red
cloth wrapped on the upper half of their bodies. The women wear a coarse white cotton skirt that reaches upto the knees. The upper part of the body is covered
with another piece of cloth. Now blouses are also worn in its place. This simple attire is accentuated by distinctive ornaments. Wooded ear plugs are worned on
enlarged holes. Spirals and rings decorate the helix. A low bun is held in place with a low bun pin that may also be used as a weapon. Several chains may be
added for beauty. Necklaces and anklets are also worn. In the past facial tattooing was common. The Lanjia Saora believe that the spirit world govern their lives.
The multiple earrings worn by the women, in particular, the women shaman, are set to enhance their ability to listen to the demands of the spirits and help guide the life of the community, cure illness and ensure prosperity.
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