Paper short abstract:

In this paper, I explore how Chippa (printing caste) women's practices of wearing, gifting and keeping 'heavy' attire for ritual events were imbued with special significance during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paper long abstract:

In the textile printing town of Bagru, Rajasthan, the English word 'heavy' is used for ornate special occasion wear worn to ritual events. This form of attire is not only heavy in adornment, however, but is also heavy in weight, price and symbolism. Material things, including cloth, clothing, and other forms of attire are a significant feature of local Hindu ritual events such as religious festivals and weddings. Practices of gifting, wearing and keeping attire related to these events is an arena of kinship connection that benefits those Chippa women with the socio-economic means to participate. These practices were placed under pressure in 2020, as government restrictions, fears of the virus and the pandemic-related economic downturn curbed social and ritual life and adversely affected the town's printing cottage industry. The slow dressing practices required for wearing 'heavy' create windows of time for hardworking (mahenati) Chippa women to partake in shared sessions of beauty, fun and fashion. I will show how getting ready for scaled-back events at home during the pandemic were both interludes of enjoyment and spaces to reaffirm kinship ties during this period of hardship.